June 2 – Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York for his contributions to football, leadership, and service to his community.
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.”
The son of Italian immigrants who built a new life in Canada, Montagliani has risen to prominence though 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. As well as Concacaf president he is a FIFA vice-president, was on the FIFA Reform Committee in 2015 and is chair of the influential FIFA stakeholders committee.
“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.”
Elected as Concacaf president in 2016 following the arrest of former president Jeff Webb and his interim Alfredo Hawit, Montagliani has overhauled the confederation through the unity of the ‘One Concacaf’ vision and an unwaivering belief that football must always be at the centre of the organisation’s work. This has meant governance reforms, strengthened its competitions, and more playing and executive opportunities for its 41 Member Associations.
Montagliani was also one of the bid leaders that secured bid for the Canada, Mexico, and the United States World Cup 2026.
The 2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor class includes: 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. Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]