Montagliani Highlights Caribbean Football Development During Dominican Republic Visit
Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani met with Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
Cap Cana, Dominican Republic - Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani visited the Dominican Republic this weekend, where he met with Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Presidents and took part in a number of football-focused activities highlighting the continued development of the game across the Caribbean.
Alongside CFU President Lyndon Cooper and the CFU Council, Montagliani attended the CFU U-14 Challenge Series Finals, underscoring the importance of youth football and of providing young players across the region with meaningful opportunities to compete and develop.
“Youth development is at the heart of everything we are trying to achieve across Concacaf,” said Montagliani. “Seeing these young players compete, represent their countries and enjoy the game is a reminder of why investing in football at every level is so important. Congratulations to Guyana and Haiti on their respective titles, and to all the national teams, referees, and staff who made the tournament possible”.
Montagliani also commended CFU President Lyndon Cooper and the CFU Council for their continued work to advance the game throughout the region.
“Lyndon and the entire CFU Council deserve tremendous credit for the work they continue to do to strengthen football across the Caribbean,” Montagliani said. “Their commitment to creating more opportunities for young players, supporting Member Associations and driving the game forward throughout the region is making a real difference.”
The visit also included a meeting of CFU Presidents, providing Caribbean Member Associations with an opportunity to reflect on a successful period for football in the region.
Over the past year, Caribbean nations have celebrated several important achievements, including qualifications for FIFA competitions, reflecting continued progress across the region.
“There is a lot for Caribbean football to be proud of,” Montagliani said. “The progress we are seeing is the result of the work being done every day by the CFU, its Member Associations, coaches, administrators and players. Our responsibility is to continue supporting that work and creating opportunities for Caribbean football to grow sustainably”.
The Presidents’ meeting also provided an open forum for Member Associations to raise questions and concerns regarding recent developments in global football.
“Football works best when its institutions are transparent, accountable and when Member Associations feel they have a voice,” Montagliani said. “It is important that we continue to have these conversations openly and respectfully, particularly when there are legitimate questions that need to be addressed.”
Montagliani added that Concacaf remains focused on working alongside its Member Associations to strengthen football throughout the Caribbean and ensure the region continues to have a strong voice within the global game.
“Our focus has always been football first,” he said. “That means investing in members, competitions, and making sure the structures around the game operate with the governance and trust that football deserves.”
