Victor Montagliani Receives Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President recognized among distinguished world leaders for his contributions to football, leadership, and community.
New York, NY – Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani has received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, joining a distinguished group of leaders recognized for their contributions to society, service to their communities, and commitment to honoring the immigrant experience.
Presented annually by the Ellis Island Honors Society, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor celebrate individuals whose achievements reflect the diversity, perseverance, and spirit of opportunity that have shaped communities across North America and beyond. Since its founding in 1986, the award has recognized leaders across public service, business, sport, culture, entertainment, philanthropy, and global affairs.
For Montagliani, the honor carries deep personal meaning. The son of Italian immigrants who built a new life in Canada, his story reflects the values at the heart of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor: family, hard work, opportunity, and service. Those values have shaped his lifelong connection to football and his leadership across the game, from his early days in Vancouver to his current roles on the regional and global stage.
*“Receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor is a meaningful recognition for my family and me, and it is a reminder of the values that have shaped my life,” **said Montagliani. “*My parents’ journey from Italy to Canada was built on courage, sacrifice, and a belief in opportunity. Those same values are at the heart of football and at the heart of our work at Concacaf, where we are committed to bringing people together, creating opportunities, and strengthening the game across our diverse region.”
Since being elected Concacaf President in 2016, Montagliani has led the Confederation through a period of transformation, guided by a “One Concacaf” vision and a commitment to placing football at the center of the organization’s work. Under his leadership, Concacaf has advanced governance reforms, strengthened its competitions, expanded opportunities for its 41 Member Associations, and prioritized the growth of women’s and girls’ football across the region.
As president of Concacaf, Montagliani also played a pivotal role in the United 2026 Bid, which ultimately secured the hosting rights to the FIFA World Cup 2026. His leadership helped unite Canada, Mexico, and the United States behind a shared vision, resulting in the first World Cup in history to be hosted by three nations.
The 2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor class includes leaders from a wide range of fields, among them Mercedes-Benz Group AG CEO Ola Källenius, chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck, OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, H.R.H. Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the US, filmmaker Ebs Burnough, Nobel Prize in Chemistry recipient Professor Omar Yaghi, country music artist Lee Greenwood, international music icon Googoosh, and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Former President of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa was also recognized with the 2026 Global Humanitarian Medal.
Past recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor include eight U.S. Presidents, Nobel Laureates, public servants, artists, athletes, and cultural icons such as Elie Wiesel, Malala Yousafzai, Colin Powell, Sandra Day O’Connor, Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton, Bob Hope, Muhammad Ali, Frank Sinatra, Rosa Parks, Mike Wallace, and Rita Moreno.
For the full list of honorees and additional information on the Ellis Island Honors Society, visit www.eihonors.org.
