New Zealand has broken ranks with Oceania's football governing body, withdrawing its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The decision makes New Zealand the latest nation to publicly oppose Infantino's bid for re-election.
New Zealand Football (NZF) stated that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football. The organization is seeking an independent review of the steps undertaken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise Scheme (FFE), a proposal that has drawn criticism and led to Infantino losing support from several confederations.
Infantino has faced opposition from Europe's UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF due to his plans to sell 20% of the World Cup's commercial rights to private investors. While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and CONMEBOL have backed Infantino for a fourth presidential term, New Zealand joins individual member nations like England, Wales, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland in withholding support.
"NZF believes this point in time represents an opportunity for all FIFA member associations to advocate for stronger governance, accountability and transparency which are fundamental in maintaining confidence of the administration of the global game," a statement from NZF read. NZF chief executive Andrew Pragnell emphasized the need for an independent review to restore trust, distinguishing it from an "in-house quick washover."
New Zealand was the only OFC member to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Some member nations within CONCACAF, such as Mexico, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis, have individually backed Infantino despite their federation's stance. Similarly, Argentina supports Infantino, aligning with CONMEBOL.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) welcomed FIFA's decision to withdraw the FFE proposal and its commitment to review related issues. However, the OFC statement did not declare or withdraw support for Infantino himself, instead recognizing progress in football development under FIFA's leadership over the past decade and encouraging necessary changes through the review process.