June 13 – Alejandro Domínguez has been re-elected as the president of Conmebol for a four-year term.
At the confederation’s ordinary congress in Luque, Paraguay, Dominguez was unanimously re-elected and, in his fourth term, he will serve until 2030 when Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay will stage a match of the 2030 World Cup.
In his victory speech, Dominguez said: “I renew my commitment to you. I feel encouraged and motivated to continue this work we began some time ago, looking to the future with great optimism, with even more joy, and with much more passion, because what is coming is even better,” said the president in his speech.
“We don’t want indebted clubs; we want strong clubs. We want players who receive their salaries on time. We want money to be invested in the logistics that will secure our future. And by working together, we can dream and solidify the foundations and conditions of our clubs and member associations.”
In 2016, Dominguez came to power following the extradition of Paraguyan Juan Angel Napout to the United States in the FIFAGate scandal. At the time, he was the sole candidate after Uruguayan Wilmar Valdez withdrew. He consolidated his grips by gaining re-elections in 2018 and 2022, without opposition.
Dominguez hails from one of the most powerful families in Paraguay, one with strong ties to dictator Alfredo Stroessner. He rose through the ranks at Olimpia where his father – Osvaldo Dominguez – served as president. Under Dominguez, Conmebol’s revenues have increased and the confederation has received money from the world football remission fund, but in a major fiasco, the organisation relinquished its dream of hosting the 2030 World Cup as a centenary celebration all too easily. Only three of the tournament’s matches will be staged in South America.
Yet Dominguez said: “Football has recognised Uruguay and South America as the birthplace of the first World Cup. And it lived up to that by deciding that the World Cup should begin where it all started. Now we are demanding to take part, to be protagonists in the organization of this World Cup. Because this is not just any World Cup – it is the 100-year anniversary World Cup.”
The South American football boss has an extra reason to celebrate. Ignoring a tender process and a conflict of interest, he manoeuvred to ensure that Olimpia’s Osvaldo Dominguez stadium will serve as Paraguay’s 2030 World Cup venue. The South American bid had proposed two options: a renovation of the current Defensores Del Chaco stadium, which is owned by the Paraguayan FA, or the construction of a new national stadium.
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