New Zealand break ranks with Oceania as FIFA’s Infantino divide grows

What the report says

New Zealand has withdrawn support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election, marking a split with the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) over his handling of a proposed sale of commercial rights linked to World Cup tournaments. The report, published by Al Jazeera and based on Reuters, says the dispute centers on a plan that would have brought private investment into FIFA competitions before being abandoned after a backlash.

According to the article, New Zealand Football said it had lost confidence and trust in FIFA’s leadership and wanted an independent review rather than an internal one. Chief executive Andrew Pragnell argued that a broader review was needed to examine decision-making, oversight and who was involved in the proposal. New Zealand is the only OFC nation to qualify for this year’s World Cup, making its position notable within the region.

The OFC, meanwhile, said it welcomed FIFA’s decision to drop the plan and noted that football development in Oceania had advanced under current FIFA leadership. The confederation stopped short of joining calls for Infantino to step aside, even as Europe’s UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have publicly criticized him. Infantino is seeking a fourth term at next year’s FIFA Congress.

The article also places New Zealand’s move within a wider pattern of mixed support across world football, with African and South American bodies backing him and several Arab associations also voicing support. The dispute matters because it reflects growing tension over FIFA governance, transparency and the organization’s approach to commercial reform.