Francisco Leonel Riveros Cantuarias (born c. 1980) is a Chilean lawyer and sports executive who has served as Minister of Sports since 14 August 2026 under President José Antonio Kast.
He previously served as general manager and director of Club Deportivo Palestino, legal and corporate affairs manager of the Santiago 2023 Corporation, and an adviser to the Presidency of Chile.
Education and professional career Riveros studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, where he obtained his law degree. He later completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the same university.
Between 2007 and 2011, Riveros was involved in the administration of Club Deportivo Palestino. He joined the board of the club's sports corporation in 2007 and served as its general manager until August 2009. During his tenure, Palestino reached the final of the 2008 Clausura tournament, where the club was defeated by Colo-Colo.
After leaving the general management position, Riveros remained involved with Palestino's board. In October 2009, he was again appointed as a director of the corporation and remained in that position until 2011.
Riveros later became involved in the organization of the 2023 Pan American Games and 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, serving as legal and corporate affairs manager of the Santiago 2023 organizing corporation.
He has also taught in the Department of Economic Law at the University of the Andes.
Presidential adviser In March 2026, Riveros joined the Presidency as an adviser in the presidential advisory team known as the Segundo Piso ("Second Floor") at La Moneda Palace, headed by Alejandro Irarrázaval. In this position, he participated in the planning, coordination and monitoring of projects considered priorities by the presidency.
His responsibilities included the implementation and coordination of the auditing process of central government agencies initiated by the Kast administration. He also served on the Strategic Committee for Audit and Fiscal Review as the presidency's representative.
Minister of Sports On 14 August 2026, President José Antonio Kast appointed Riveros as Minister of Sports, succeeding Natalia Duco, who had resigned from the position the previous day.
Riveros formally took office the same day in a ceremony held at La Moneda Palace. Upon taking office, he identified the continuation of the A Mover Chile program, the promotion of physical activity, and the development of federated sport and professional football among his priorities.
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