Victor Montagliani, the Canadian president of Concacaf and a FIFA vice-president, has been honored with a day named after him in Vancouver, but his rise to the top of world soccer is marked by both achievement and controversy. Mayor Ken Sim declared September 12 as Victor Montagliani Day in Vancouver, citing his role in bringing the 2026 World Cup to North America. However, Montagliani's past includes allegations of mishandling sexual abuse complaints and controversial business deals.
Early Life and Rise in Soccer
Born Vittorio Montagliani in East Vancouver in 1960, he was immersed in soccer from birth. His father founded the Italian Canadian Sports Federation and was president of Columbus FC. Montagliani played for Columbus and made Canada's national futsal team before an ankle injury ended his playing career. He earned a degree in political science and worked as a flight attendant before moving into insurance and risk management. In 2002, he joined the Vancouver Metro Soccer League board, became president of BC Soccer in 2004, and was elected president of Canada Soccer in 2012.
Concacaf Presidency and FIFA Role
In 2015, Montagliani was in Zurich when Swiss authorities arrested soccer officials on corruption charges, including Concacaf President Jefferey Webb. Montagliani chaired a committee to run Concacaf for a year and won the presidency in 2016, becoming the first non-Caribbean to hold the role since 1969. He campaigned personally, visiting all 41 member nations. The position also made him a FIFA vice-president.
The Birarda Scandal
Montagliani faced criticism over Canada Soccer's handling of allegations against coach Bob Birarda, who was later jailed for sexual assault. In 2008, players reported concerns about Birarda to the Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada Soccer. Montagliani, then a Canada Soccer vice-president, led a meeting where players were told Birarda's departure was for unspecified health reasons, not the allegations. The McLaren Report in 2022 found that Canada Soccer's failure to terminate Birarda allowed him to continue coaching, putting other players at risk. Montagliani has denied covering up the abuse, stating he was unaware of the depth of Birarda's actions. A former player told the Guardian in 2023: "Victor Montagliani and Peter Montopoli covered up a sexual predator."
Controversial Business Deals
As Canada Soccer president, Montagliani helped create Canada Soccer Business (CSB), a private company that managed media and marketing rights. Under the deal, CSB paid Canada Soccer just $3 million in 2019, with annual increases of about $500,000, effectively until 2037. The deal faced scrutiny for its lopsided terms and was renegotiated in February 2025, with new CEO Kevin Blue stating the new agreement gives Canada Soccer "well over $100 million." Montagliani told a parliamentary inquiry he had nothing to do with the deal after leaving for Concacaf.
2026 World Cup Bid
Montagliani was instrumental in the successful joint bid by the US, Canada, and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. He convinced US Soccer president Sunil Gulati to join forces, telling him: "You just lost the last two bids, got your ass kicked. And you're going to lose again." Vancouver will host seven World Cup matches. Montagliani was unanimously reelected Concacaf president in 2023, with his term ending in 2027.
Future Ambitions
Montagliani is seen as a potential successor to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whose term ends in 2027. While he did not rule out a 2031 bid, he said: "The future will be the future, whatever that is." A successful World Cup could boost his chances.
