Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani: ‘MLS can become the second-biggest league in the world. Maybe the biggest’

Victor Montagliani believes the World Cup will trigger a “cultural revolution” in North America that could result in Major League Soccer rivaling the Premier League at the top of club football. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, the president of Concacaf, who is also Fifa vice president: Defended the tournament’s controversial pricing strategy on the grounds that a World Cup in North America will be the peak of Fifa’s earning power that funds global football. Claimed Donald Trump will have “no part to play” at the tournament and that Fifa is “more than one guy.” Insisted it is too early to begin discussing expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, something which has been requested by South American confederation Conmebol. Expressed support for increasing the Club World Cup to 48 teams to raise standards and drive revenue growth. Left the door open to running for the Fifa presidency in 2031, after Gianni Infantino completes a final term following his expected reelection next year. In 2012, when he was president of the Canadian Soccer Association, Montagliani was one of the first advocates of Canada bidding to host the World Cup, and has been integral to the development of the tournament since being elected as head of Concacaf in 2016. …