New Zealand break with OFC to withdraw Infantino support

What the report says

New Zealand Football has become the latest national federation to say it will not support Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as Fifa president, according to BBC Sport Football. The move breaks from the stance of Oceania’s governing body, the OFC, and follows similar decisions by several other individual associations, including England, Wales, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

BBC Sport reported that Infantino has already lost backing from Uefa, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf after his abandoned proposal to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors. At the same time, Caf and South America’s Conmebol have continued to support him ahead of the Fifa Congress in March, where he would need 106 votes to secure a fourth term.

In a statement cited by BBC Sport, New Zealand Football said it wanted an independent review of the Fifa Forward Enterprise Scheme and argued that recent decisions inside Fifa had weakened trust and increased division. Chief executive Andrew Pragnell said the federation did not want an internal review that could be seen as a quick fix. The organisation said stronger governance, accountability and transparency were needed to restore confidence in world football.

The OFC said it welcomed Fifa’s decision to drop the proposal and review the issues around the scheme, while noting the progress made in Oceania under Fifa’s leadership. New Zealand was the only OFC member to reach the 2026 men’s World Cup, which adds context to its stance.