President Victor Montagliani spared no plaudits in his salute of Concacaf’s leadership as individuals and also as a collective, citing their proactive mindset and visionary thinking as the driving force behind the broad-based successes of the confederation.

The Canadian believes the agenda to transform Concacaf from a governance and developmental standpoint over the past eight years owes its success to the region’s presidents believing in and buying into the One Concacaf ecosystem.

“Now that we have had this eight-year journey of coming together as One Concacaf, where we’ve put our fiscal, moral, and football house in order, we have earned the respect of the global football community,” Montagliani said as he addressed the annual presidents’ meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Friday.

“We have got to this point through tremendous work, underpinned by the commitment of our member associations. I take my hat off to them; they’ve kept going, and they keep going because they know how important it is to work together,” he added.

Among the revolutionary moves to build out the development and competition side of the game were the launch of the Concacaf Nations League, the introduction of revamped men’s and women’s national team calendars, and new men’s and women’s elite club competitions, which have seen evidence of increased global relevance for clubs and leagues in the region.

The 41-member confederation also takes pride in the successful establishment and implementation of a range of initiatives to support member associations to promote football on and off the field. These initiatives include — but are not limited to — the One Concacaf Programme, the Executive Mentorship Programme, and the Coaching Convention.

The meeting provided a crucial opportunity to reflect on the eight-year transformation of the confederation, highlighting significant successes and vital milestones achieved by Concacaf and its member associations.

Montagliani used the opportunity to provide key updates on Concacaf’s initiatives and competitions, all designed to promote football across the region. Notable among these updates is the introduction of the Concacaf Nations League Finals for Leagues B and C – starting with the 2026/27 edition.

“The introduction of the Concacaf Nations League in 2018 transformed men’s national team football in Concacaf, [and] the year-round tournament has allowed all member associations to consistently play meaningful and competitive matches and strive to reach their next level. All of this has led to increased exposure of teams and players internationally.

“With the exciting addition of centralised finals for leagues B and C, every league will now crown its own champion and provide an unprecedented opportunity for all 41-member associations to compete for a trophy,” noted the former president of Canadian Soccer Association.

At the meeting, Montagliani also announced the launch of the Concacaf Academy as part of the confederation’s ongoing efforts to support its member associations and develop off-the-pitch talent.

“Building on the success of the confederation’s Executive Mentorship Programme, which was launched in 2019 and has enhanced the skills of senior leadership within member associations, we will now take professional learning to the next level with the launch of the Concacaf Academy,” he said.

The enrolment process for member associations will begin soon, and the Concacaf Academy is expected to launch in early 2025.

Montagliani also expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the nine inaugural members of the Concacaf Coaching Convention. The convention is an agreement between the confederation and its member associations and serves as the regulatory framework for standardising coach education across the region.

“The high standards for coaching and education established by the convention are essential for the continued positive development of the confederation. Through the convention, our member associations gain access to the training and resources needed to deliver high-quality education to both current and aspiring coaches. They also have the ability to accredit coaches in their own regions with Concacaf coaching licences,” he outlined.

Anguilla, Belize, Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico have been granted Licence C status, El Salvador was awarded Licence B, while Canada and Trinidad and Tobago achieved Licence A status.

The convention is designed to be flexible to the diverse needs of its federations, ensuring its benefits extend to coaches and football development across the region.

All Concacaf member associations can become convention invested by applying for one of four licence levels, ranging from the C Licence to the Pro Licence, the highest coaching award available across the region.

Concacaf Association bosses pose for pictures at a confederation presidents’ meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Friday. Photo: Concacaf Media