Infantino asked to stay away from youth tournament
August 22, 2026 16:29
Concacaf president and Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani has asked Fifa president Gianni Infantino to reconsider attending the CFU Under-14 Series in the Dominican Republic, saying Infantino’s presence would distract from the competition. Montagliani set out his objection in a letter seen by the BBC, referring to the "governance crisis" at Fifa.
Infantino had been invited to the youth tournament as a guest of the Dominican Republic. The invitation is reported to have been issued before his controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal became public; that proposal has since been shelved.
KEY CONTEXT
- The CFU Under-14 Series is a youth development event in the Dominican Republic funded through Fifa’s Forward programme.
- Infantino has faced heavy criticism over the attempted FFE plan to sell stakes in World Cup and other competitions, and several football associations and confederations have withdrawn their backing.
- An open letter from Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation accused Infantino of breaking trust "through deception."
- Fifa’s decision to dismiss senior executive Kevin Lamour after his criticism of Infantino has also drawn criticism.
- Despite the controversy, some Concacaf nations supported Infantino’s continued candidacy for a fourth term, and he retains backing from Conmebol and Caf.
WHY IT MATTERS
Montagliani’s request highlights the political strain within world football’s governing structures and the concern that high-profile visits could shift attention away from player development activities. The episode underlines divisions among confederations over Infantino’s leadership and the fallout from the FFE proposal, with implications for Fifa’s credibility and internal governance.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Infantino proceeds to attend events at the CFU Under-14 Series after Montagliani’s appeal.
- Any further public statements or formal decisions from Fifa, Concacaf or national associations responding to Montagliani’s letter.
- Additional moves by confederations or associations either withdrawing support or reaffirming backing for Infantino following the FFE controversy and related personnel decisions.
KEY FACTS
- Victor Montagliani, Concacaf president and Fifa vice-president, wrote to Gianni Infantino asking him to reconsider attending the CFU Under-14 Series.
- The letter, seen by the BBC, referenced a "governance crisis" at Fifa and warned attendance would distract from the tournament’s technical focus.
- The CFU Under-14 Series is funded by Fifa’s Forward programme.
- Infantino’s FFE proposal to involve private investors was heavily criticised and has been scrapped; several associations and confederations withdrew support in response.
- Infantino was reported to have been well received on arrival in the Dominican Republic and still has support from Conmebol and Caf.