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'Game of Thrones politics': Pragnell reflects on NZ Football tenure and FIFA chaos
Sport Nation • August 4th, 2026 5:11 pm
Andrew Pragnell | Photo: Photosport
Andrew Pragnell is leaving New Zealand Football with the sport in stronger shape, but not without a few scars from what he calls “Game of Thrones politics”.
The outgoing NZF CEO joined Sport Nation’s Millsy & Guy after announcing he will step down in 2027, ending the longest chief executive tenure in the organisation’s history.
“It’s been a great period,” Pragnell said.
“I’m into my ninth year here and I’ve had a fantastic time. Business is in good shape, the sport’s in amazing shape. I just think it’s a really good place to pass the baton.”
Pragnell pointed to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as the standout moment of his tenure, not only winning the bid and hosting the tournament, but seeing New Zealand embrace it.
“The way in which the country, New Zealand, embraced the Women’s World Cup had to be a highlight,” he said.
“I looked back and looked at hospitality and tourism in that year and the bump we got after Covid, made me proud that football helped prop us up post-Covid during some pretty hard times.”
He also highlighted the growth of the professional game, from one New Zealand-based professional team to five, and the work towards a third A-League side, based in the South Island.
“Historically, Australia were actually looking to get us out of the A-League altogether under previous regimes,” Pragnell said.
“Now we’re an integral part of it.”
CEO of New Zealand Football Andrew Pragnell and New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley | Photo: Photosport
But asked for the toughest part of the job, Pragnell did not hesitate.
“Game of Thrones politics,” he said.
“With passion comes emotion, and with emotion comes sometimes agendas and sometimes the game pulls at itself really, really hard.”
That political edge has extended globally, with Pragnell sharply critical of FIFA’s proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup.
He said he first learned of the plan from journalists, not FIFA.
“I woke up at 5.30am and got a bunch of texts from journalists saying, what do you make of the proposal?” Pragnell said.
“I wasn’t sure what they were talking about.”
NZF later found it was not alone in being blindsided, with other member associations and even the FIFA Council out of the loop.
“That was pretty poor,” he said.
“That’s not how you expect to find out things as a member of FIFA. And that’s one of the many reasons the proposal has crashed and burned.”
Asked whether Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA president remains tenable, Pragnell stopped short of a firm call, but said the damage was obvious.
“It’s obviously a grave misstep,” he said.
“I think it’s put a lot of doubt into the international football system. He’s clearly lost a lot of supporters who are key.”
As for what comes next for Pragnell personally, he kept it simple.
“Cup of tea and a lie down,” he said.
Listen to the full interview below:
