CONCACAF chief asks FIFA boss to skip Dominican youth tournament amid governance concerns

In a letter, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, who also serves as a FIFA vice-president, asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to refrain from attending the CFU Under-14 Series in the Dominican Republic this weekend. Montagliani argued that the “governance crisis surrounding FIFA” would make Infantino’s presence detract from the competition’s technical nature. The Dominican Republic had originally invited Infantino before his contentious FFE proposal, which sought to sell stakes in World Cup events and has since been abandoned, sparking criticism from multiple football confederations.

Despite the request, Infantino was welcomed on arrival, and Dominican sports minister Kelvin Cruz said his visit highlights the country on the global football stage. Several CONCACAF members still back Infantino for a fourth term, while the tournament is funded through FIFA’s Forward programme. The episode reflects broader tensions as UEFA, AFC and others have withdrawn support, though Infantino retains backing from CONMEBOL and CAF.