New Zealand withdraws support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino

New Zealand Football (NZF) has announced it is withdrawing its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The decision marks a departure from the position held by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

In a statement released on Friday, NZF claimed that recent actions and decisions within FIFA have caused increased division and a loss of trust in international football. The governing body stated that an independent review is necessary to restore confidence. NZF also called for an investigation into the scrapped private investment plan involving the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which intended to allow third-party investors to take stakes in a commercial subsidiary.

The move places New Zealand at odds with the OFC. The regional confederation issued a statement on Friday welcoming the cancellation of the FFE proposal while signaling its support for Infantino. The OFC noted progress in football development in Oceania under the current leadership and suggested that any necessary changes should be identified through the requested review.

Regional confederations remain divided over Infantino's future as he prepares for re-election in 2027. UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC have all called for a change in leadership. Conversely, CONMEBOL and CAF have backed the president, who has held the position since 2016.

New Zealand joins several other nations that have declared their individual stances. Wales, Finland, Serbia, and Sweden were among the first to withdraw support. England, Jordan, Albania, the Republic of Ireland, and Norway also announced they would not back him, with Norway specifically calling for his resignation. However, nations including Paraguay, Argentina, and Mexico continue to support the FIFA president.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump also expressed support for Infantino. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that parting ways with the president would be a mistake, citing the success of the recent World Cup.