Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani was elected CONCACAF president on Thursday, beating out FIFA appeals panel chairman Larry Mussenden 25-16 in a vote at the FIFA Congress in Mexico City.
Montagliani is the third CONCACAF president in a year. He’ll be tasked with leading the confederation as it tries to recover from corruption and scandal that it was rocked by last year, when former presidents Jeffrey Webb and his interim successor Alfredo Hawit were both indicted by the US Department of Justice.
“I am truly [honored] to have the confidence of CONCACAF’s members as we move into a new football first era for our confederation,” Montagliani said in a statement issued by the CSA after the election in Mexico City. “Our members have voted in [favor] of reform, and I am committed to ensuring CONCACAF rebuilds its credibility with the football world and to position and ready the organization to deal effectively with the evolving global game.”
Montagliani's campaign platform, titled "ONE CONCACAF," was centered around a commitment to instituting the reform package passed by CONCACAF in February and an investment in infrastructure around the confederation.
A Vancouver native, Montagliani has served as president of the CSA since February 2012. He oversaw the country’s hosting of the hugely successful FIFA Women’s World Cup last summer.
