New Zealand break ranks with Oceania as FIFA’s Infantino divide grows | World Cup News
Oceania Confederation Backs Infantino Despite New Zealand’s Withdrawal of Support
Published: August 14, 2026
New Zealand has become the latest country to withdraw its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid, following controversy over his recently scrapped plan to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights. In contrast, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has expressed cautious support for the current FIFA leadership amidst ongoing tensions within the organization.
Infantino is facing mounting criticism from multiple confederations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF, which represent a significant portion of FIFA’s member associations. These confederations have collectively called for a review of Infantino’s leadership and have criticized his proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA competitions.
Seeking a fourth term at the helm of FIFA, Infantino plans to stand for re-election at the forthcoming FIFA Congress next year. Both the African and South American confederations have reaffirmed their support for him.
New Zealand, which is the only OFC nation to qualify for this year’s World Cup, announced on August 12 that it could no longer support Infantino. The nation called for an independent review of the proposed stake sale due to concerns about trust and confidence in FIFA’s leadership.
“We have called for an independent review specifically because we don’t want to see a sort of in-house quick washout of this,” said New Zealand Football Chief Executive Andrew Pragnell. He noted that the independent review, advocated by other confederations, is essential for restoring trust in FIFA.
The OFC issued a statement expressing approval of FIFA’s decision to withdraw the controversial proposal. The confederation acknowledged the progress made in developing football in Oceania under FIFA’s current leadership and encouraged the organization to use the review as an opportunity for improvement.
Infantino’s proposed sale involved offering 20% of the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors, with anticipated revenue reaching approximately $4.2 billion. The plan included a $20 million grant for member associations that could be doubled if they participated in the deal. However, following outcry from various confederations, Infantino reversed his position.
In light of the turmoil, FIFA held a crisis meeting in Morocco last week, during which it apologized to its 211 member associations for the mishandling of the proposal. FIFA leadership expressed its full support for Infantino.
Despite criticism from UEFA, AFC, and CONCACAF, which together represent 136 of the 211 member associations eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential election, Infantino retains significant backing. Six heads of Arab national football associations, including Qatar and Morocco, have publicly endorsed his leadership, highlighting his efforts to advance football globally. Additionally, the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football has confirmed its unwavering support for Infantino.
Pragnell emphasized the need for an independent review to clarify the decision-making process at FIFA and to investigate the involvement of Thrive Capital, a firm with connections to U.S. President Donald Trump. He underscored the importance of urgency and consensus among all confederations in determining the scope of the review.
Australia, also a member of the AFC, has expressed support for an independent review while refraining from taking a public stance on Infantino’s leadership. Pragnell indicated that New Zealand’s position aligns with Australia’s commitment to the AFC’s statement.
As the FIFA presidential election approaches, the dynamics within the organization continue to evolve, with significant implications for its governance and future direction.
