Central Football is one of six federations of New Zealand Football, representing regions of Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatà «, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne.
While New Zealand Football is the governing body, unlike other sports in New Zealand, the funding model for football means each seven regional federations look after football in their area themselves, only following New Zealand Football's plan as they see fit. For the local federations, the clubs fund the federation with the rest of the money coming from Sport New Zealand funding and about three per cent from New Zealand Football.
The region has also provided a women's representative team for the New Zealand Women's National League from its inaugural season in 2002 onwards.
As of 2022.
<small>Note: Central League includes teams from the Capital Football Federation and is a lower North Island competition managed by Capital Football.</small>
As of 2022.
The Lotto Central Federation Cup is the premier men's knock-out trophy of the Central Football Federation and is contested annually by clubs affiliated to the Central Football Federation.
Originally launched in 2001, the Central Federation Cup in its current form relaunched in 2009, and has been competed for each season since, with the exception of the COVID-19 affected 2020 season, when the first round of matches was initially scheduled then subsequently cancelled.