OFC backs Infantino as New Zealand breaks ranks

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has formally endorsed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a step that effectively commits the confederation’s 11 votes to his administration. The endorsement comes as Infantino faces heightened pressure in other parts of global football, highlighting growing divisions over FIFA’s leadership.

Reports said New Zealand, the OFC’s largest member nation and its only World Cup qualifier, has taken a different position from the confederation’s declared stance. The country withdrew its backing for Infantino and called for an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan.

OFC joins CAF and CONMEBOL in public support

With its endorsement With its endorsement, the OFC aligns itself with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and South America’s CONMEBOL, both described in reports as supporting Infantino. While the OFC is FIFA’s smallest confederation by membership, a unified bloc of 11 full members can still be significant in a close presidential contest. The timing is also notable because the declaration lands ahead of next year’s FIFA presidential election, which is expected to be Infantino’s first leadership challenge in a decade. Reports framed New Zealand’s divergence as a reminder that internal consensus is not guaranteed, even within smaller confederations. Resignation calls from UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC In contrast to OFC’s stated support, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have recently called for Infantino’s resignation, according to reports. Together, those three confederations account for 143 of FIFA’s 211 members, underscoring that major parts of FIFA’s structure are associated with leadership blocs that are not aligned on the current president.

The Oceania Football Confederation

At the same time, reports noted that prominent countries inside those confederations have not always mirrored the public line set by regional leadership. Mexico and Qatar were cited as nations that have previously expressed continued support for Infantino, indicating that voting behavior by national federations may not strictly track confederation-level positions.

Transparency debate and the key uncertainty on voting

The reported fracture inside the OFC was also set against a broader governance debate, including concerns about transparency. Those concerns have been amplified following an abandoned World Cup sell-off initiative earlier this month, which has increased scrutiny of decision-making at the top of the sport, according to the reports.

OFC’s public declaration, alongside New Zealand’s dissent, was described as reinforcing a symbolic divide in world football over Infantino’s leadership. Reports added that continued backing from smaller OFC nations, including American Samoa and the Cook Islands, is expected to be a significant factor in the debate as the election approaches.

The central uncertainty, as framed in the reporting, is whether individual member nations will ultimately break from confederation leadership blocs—either to support or oppose the current administration. How those stated positions translate into votes, and where national federations finally align, will shape the direction of international football governance.