CONCACAF asks FIFA President Gianni Infantino to skip youth tournament

CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani has formally requested that FIFA President Gianni Infantino refrain from attending a youth football tournament in the Dominican Republic this weekend. Montagliani argued that the FIFA leader’s presence would distract from the sporting event due to the intense scrutiny surrounding his current leadership.

The Governance Crisis

Infantino is currently facing significant pressure from three major football confederations—UEFA, the AFC, and CONCACAF—to resign. This friction follows his controversial and subsequently aborted proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup. As the FIFA president seeks a fourth term extending until 2031, he has seen support wane among several national associations and high-ranking officials, leading to speculation regarding a potential vote of no confidence.

The Letter to Infantino

In a letter dated Friday and reviewed by Reuters, Montagliani, who serves as a vice president on the FIFA Council, explicitly cited the “governance crisis surrounding FIFA” as the primary reason for his request. He noted, “As you may be aware, your proposed attendance has garnered significant media attention.” Montagliani further cautioned that the media focus on the current political climate would “significantly take away from the technical nature of the CFU youth competition.” He concluded by respectfully asking Infantino to reconsider his attendance to protect the integrity of the youth development activity.

Dominican Republic Visit

Despite the request from CONCACAF, Infantino arrived in Punta Cana, where he was greeted by the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kelvin Cruz. In an official statement, Cruz expressed gratitude for the visit, noting that Infantino’s presence helps place the nation on the international football radar and fosters growth for the local sport. Infantino was also welcomed by a delegation including Dominican Football Federation President Jose Deschamps, National Commissioner of Football Benny Metz, and Olympic Committee President Garibaldy Bautista Lorenzo. The report also notes that sport has contacted FIFA for comment.

• Infantino is currently navigating a period of intense institutional instability at FIFA.
• The CFU U-14 Series is the specific youth event identified by Montagliani as being at risk of overshadowing.
• Sport has reached out to FIFA for an official response regarding the request.
• The conflict highlights the deepening divide between the FIFA administration and regional governing bodies.
• The outcome of this standoff remains uncertain as Infantino continues his visit despite the formal request to stay away.