Oceania Backs Infantino as New Zealand Withdraws Support

The Oceania Football Confederation has declared its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while its most prominent member, New Zealand, has withdrawn its backing, highlighting a deepening divide within world football's governing body. The OFC's statement on Friday, August 14, followed a meeting of its executive committee in Fiji on August 12 and came as New Zealand Football formally announced it would not support Infantino's reelection bid.

The OFC, the smallest confederation with 11 full members, did not explicitly endorse Infantino but praised the progress made under his leadership over the past decade. In its statement, the OFC said it "welcomes FIFA's decision to withdraw the FFE proposal and its commitment to review the issues surrounding the project." It added that it "recognises the progress achieved over the last decade in advancing football development in Oceania under FIFA's leadership and encourages FIFA to use the review as an opportunity to identify and implement any changes that may be necessary."

However, New Zealand, the only OFC nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, broke ranks with its confederation. New Zealand Football stated it had "formally...