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New Zealand Withdraws Support for Gianni Infantino

Posted : 14 August 2026

New Zealand Football has become the latest national association to withdraw its backing for Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, breaking ranks with the Oceania Football Confederation. The decision comes amid growing criticism of FIFA’s leadership following the collapse of a controversial plan involving private investment in the organisation’s commercial operations.

NZ Football said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s decision-making and called for an independent examination of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. The federation argued that recent developments had created a breakdown in trust and increased divisions within international football, making stronger governance, transparency and accountability necessary.

New Zealand’s decision puts it at odds with the OFC, which has welcomed FIFA’s withdrawal of the investment proposal while praising the progress made in football development across Oceania under Infantino’s leadership. The regional body has also encouraged FIFA to use its review of the scheme to identify and implement any necessary changes.

New Zealand joins a growing list of national associations, including England, Wales, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, that have either withdrawn support or opposed Infantino’s re-election campaign. Meanwhile, UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have also criticised the FIFA president over the abandoned commercial proposal.

NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell said the organisation wanted an independent process rather than an internal review, arguing that outside scrutiny would be more effective in rebuilding confidence in FIFA’s leadership.

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