New Zealand withdraws support for Infantino as FIFA governance crisis deepens

New Zealand has formally withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid, marking a significant fracture within the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The decision follows the governing body’s aborted plan to sell a 20 percent stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors, a move that has triggered calls for an independent review of FIFA’s governance structures.

While the OFC has cautiously backed Infantino’s leadership, acknowledging progress in regional football development over the past decade, New Zealand Football has taken a harder line. The national body cited a breakdown in trust and a lack of confidence in the current leadership, arguing that the handling of the commercial rights proposal necessitated stronger accountability and transparency.

New Zealand Football Chief Executive Andrew Pragnell emphasised that the call for an independent review was driven by a desire to avoid an internal investigation that might lack credibility. He stated that the scope of such a review must be agreed upon by all confederations and should urgently examine decision-making processes and oversight mechanisms.

The controversy centres on a proposal to raise approximately $4.2 billion by selling a portion of commercial rights, which included a $20 million grant for member associations that could have been doubled upon signing. The plan was linked to Thrive Capital, a firm with close familial ties to US President Donald Trump, raising questions about the involvement of external private interests in global football governance.

FIFA has apologised to its 211 member associations for errors in handling the proposal and affirmed that its leadership retains full support for Infantino. However, the incumbent president faces open revolt from three confederations representing 136 member associations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and CONCACAF. Despite this opposition, Infantino retains backing from African and South American confederations, as well as six Arab national football associations.

New Zealand, the only OFC nation to qualify for the current World Cup, aligns itself with Australia, an AFC member that has also called for an independent review without publicly declaring its position on Infantino’s re-election. The FIFA Congress, where Infantino will seek a fourth term, is scheduled for next year.

Pragnell noted that the review must specifically investigate who was involved in the plan for Thrive Capital to play a leading role in the venture. He stressed that the urgency of the matter requires all confederations to agree on the review’s parameters to ensure it effectively restores trust in the global game.