New Zealand Football has withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election campaign and called for an independent review into recent governance concerns at world football’s governing body. The decision makes New Zealand the first major football association from Oceania to publicly break from Infantino’s leadership ahead of the FIFA presidential election.
The move follows widespread criticism of FIFA’s abandoned proposal to sell a significant commercial stake in future competitions to private investors, a plan that reportedly aimed to raise billions of dollars but triggered concerns among several football confederations over transparency and decision-making processes.
New Zealand Football said its position was based on a loss of confidence in FIFA’s current leadership approach and the need for an independent examination of the issues surrounding the proposal. The federation stressed that greater accountability and transparency were necessary to restore trust among member associations.
The decision places New Zealand at odds with the Oceania Football Confederation’s broader position. The OFC has continued to acknowledge progress made under Infantino’s presidency while supporting calls for a review of the controversial commercial proposal.
New Zealand’s stance carries additional significance because the country has benefited from several FIFA initiatives during Infantino’s presidency. These include New Zealand’s role as co-host of the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the expansion of the men’s World Cup format, which provides Oceania with a guaranteed qualification place.
However, New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell previously argued that the handling of FIFA’s investment proposal created uncertainty around governance standards. He said football organisations needed confidence that major financial decisions were made through appropriate consultation and transparent processes.
The dispute has created one of the biggest governance challenges of Infantino’s presidency. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have criticised the handling of the failed commercial plan and called for an independent review, arguing that FIFA must improve its decision-making processes.
The proposed investment agreement, linked to FIFA’s commercial rights strategy, faced opposition after concerns were raised about how the plan was developed and communicated to football stakeholders. FIFA later withdrew the proposal following the backlash.
Infantino, who became FIFA president in 2016, still retains support from several football regions, including backing from many African and South American associations. The balance of support will be closely monitored as the election process moves forward.
New Zealand’s decision highlights a growing divide within international football governance. While some federations remain supportive of Infantino’s leadership and point to development programmes and financial investment under his administration, others argue that stronger oversight is required.
The independent review requested by New Zealand and other football bodies could become a key issue ahead of FIFA’s presidential election. The outcome may influence discussions about how the organisation manages commercial partnerships, financial distribution and internal accountability.
For FIFA, the challenge now is balancing continued support from member associations with demands from critics who want structural reforms. The response to those concerns could shape the organisation’s direction for years beyond the upcoming election.
