2026 OFC Professional League

Last updated
OFC Professional League
Season2026
Dates17 January – 24 May 2026
2027 →

The 2026 OFC Professional League will be the inaugural season of the OFC Professional League, a men's professional football league in the Oceania region. It is organized by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and features eight clubs from seven nations, competing in a circuit series format across various Pacific locations.

Contents

The league champion will qualify for the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and provide a pathway to the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] apart from the South Melbourne team (who cannot qualify for other competitions as they are based in Australia, which is part of the Asian Football Confederation).

The fixtures were released on 24 November 2025. [8]

Clubs

Oceania laea location map.svg
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Locations of clubs competing in the 2026 season.

Clubs and locations

TeamCity
Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland FC Youth Auckland
Flag of Fiji.svg Bula FC Suva
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg PNG Hekari Port Moresby
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Kings Honiara
Flag of New Zealand.svg South Island United Christchurch
Flag of Australia (converted).svg South Melbourne Melbourne
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahiti United Pīraʻe
Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu United Port Vila

Personnel and kits

ClubManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland FC Youth Flag of Australia (converted).svg Luke Casserly [9] New Balance [10] ANZ [11]
Flag of Fiji.svg Bula FC Flag of Guadeloupe (local).svg Stéphane Auvray [12]
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg PNG Hekari Flag of Brazil.svg Marcos Gusmão [13]    
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Kings     Solomon Ports [14]
Flag of New Zealand.svg South Island United Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Rob Sherman [15] [16]    
Flag of Australia (converted).svg South Melbourne Flag of Australia (converted).svg Siniša Cohadzić [17]   Kappa [18]  
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahiti United Flag of French Polynesia.svg Samuel Garcia [19] Flag of French Polynesia.svg Teaonui Tehau [20]   
Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu United Flag of Germany.svg Lars Hopp [21]

Foreign players

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3OFC player 1OFC player 2OFC player 3
Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland FC Youth
Flag of Fiji.svg Bula FC
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg PNG Hekari Flag of Brazil.svg  Erick Joe [22]   Flag of Brazil.svg Kaue Silva [22] Flag of Brazil.svg Rafael Chaves [22] Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg John Orobulu [23] Flag of Vanuatu.svg John Alick [23]
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Kings
Flag of New Zealand.svg South Island United Flag of Samoa.svg Dauntae Mariner [24]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg South Melbourne Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Uchida [25]  
Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahiti United
Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu United Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matt Acton [26] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Hassan Ramazani [27] Flag of the United States.svg William Cardona [28] Flag of New Zealand.svg Otto Ingham [29] Flag of New Zealand.svg Owen Smith [30] Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Raymond Diho [31]

Format

The competition features five circuit series rounds followed by two playoff groups (Leaders and Challengers) before the semi-finals and final. [32]

Venues

The round-robin matches will be played in Auckland, Australia, Ba, Honiara, Port Moresby and Suva. [33]

Round 1Round 2Round 3
Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Port Moresby Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Eden Park North Harbour Stadium PNG Football Stadium TBD Stadium
Capacity: 50,000Capacity: 14,000Capacity: 14,800Capacity: TBD
2023 Women's World Cup Semifinal Game (53150759107).jpg North Harbour Stadium East Side.jpg NFS, PORT MORESBY, PNG..jpg
Round 4Round 5Round 6
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Honiara Flag of Fiji.svg Ba Flag of Fiji.svg Suva Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland
National Stadium Govind Park Buckhurst Park Eden Park
Capacity: 10,000Capacity: 13,500Capacity: 15,446Capacity: 50,000
Image not available.png Govind-Park-Fiji.jpg ANZ Stadium Fiji.jpg 2023 Women's World Cup Semifinal Game (53150759107).jpg

Circuit Series

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland FC Youth 00000000Qualification for Leaders play-off group
2 Flag of Fiji.svg Bula FC 00000000
3 Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg PNG Hekari 00000000
4 Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Kings 00000000
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg South Island United 00000000Qualification for Challengers play-off group
6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg South Melbourne 00000000
7 Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahiti United 00000000
8 Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu United 00000000
First match(es) will be played: 17 January 2026. Source: OFC Pro League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head to head; 5) Head to head goal difference; 6) Head to head goals scored; 7) Disciplinary record; 8) Coin toss [34]

Results

Circuit 1
Home teamScoreAway team
Vanuatu United   Flag of Vanuatu.svg 17 Jan Flag of Fiji.svg   Bula FC
Auckland FC   Flag of New Zealand.svg 17 Jan Flag of New Zealand.svg   South Island United
Tahiti United   Flag of French Polynesia.svg 18 Jan Flag of Australia (converted).svg   South Melbourne
PNG Hekari   Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 18 Jan Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg   Solomon Kings
Bula FC   Flag of Fiji.svg 20 Jan Flag of New Zealand.svg   South Island United
Auckland FC   Flag of New Zealand.svg 20 Jan Flag of Vanuatu.svg   Vanuatu United
Tahiti United   Flag of French Polynesia.svg 21 Jan Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg   PNG Hekari
South Melbourne   Flag of Australia (converted).svg 21 Jan Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg   Solomon Kings
South Island United   Flag of New Zealand.svg 23 Jan Flag of Vanuatu.svg   Vanuatu United
Auckland FC   Flag of New Zealand.svg 23 Jan Flag of Fiji.svg   Bula FC
Solomon Kings   Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 24 Jan Flag of French Polynesia.svg   Tahiti United
PNG Hekari   Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 24 Jan Flag of Australia (converted).svg   South Melbourne
Circuit 2
Home teamScoreAway team
Vanuatu United   Flag of Vanuatu.svg 31 Jan Flag of French Polynesia.svg   Tahiti United
PNG Hekari   Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 31 Jan Flag of New Zealand.svg   Auckland FC
South Island United   Flag of New Zealand.svg 1 Feb Flag of Australia (converted).svg   South Melbourne
Bula FC   Flag of Fiji.svg 1 Feb Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg   Solomon Kings
Tahiti United   Flag of French Polynesia.svg 3 Feb Flag of New Zealand.svg   Auckland FC
PNG Hekari   Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 3 Feb Flag of Vanuatu.svg   Vanuatu United
Solomon Kings   Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 4 Feb Flag of New Zealand.svg   South Island United
Bula FC   Flag of Fiji.svg 4 Feb Flag of Australia (converted).svg   South Melbourne
Auckland FC   Flag of New Zealand.svg 7 Feb Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg   Solomon Kings
PNG Hekari   Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 7 Feb Flag of New Zealand.svg   South Island United
South Melbourne   Flag of Australia (converted).svg 8 Feb Flag of Vanuatu.svg   Vanuatu United
Tahiti United   Flag of French Polynesia.svg 8 Feb Flag of Fiji.svg   Bula FC
Circuit 3
Home teamScoreAway team
Tahiti United   Flag of French Polynesia.svg 21 Feb Flag of New Zealand.svg   South Island United
South Melbourne   Flag of Australia (converted).svg 21 Feb Flag of New Zealand.svg   Auckland FC
Bula FC   Flag of Fiji.svg 22 Feb Flag of Vanuatu.svg   Vanuatu United
Solomon Kings   Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 22 Feb Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg   PNG Hekari
South Island United   Flag of New Zealand.svg 24 Feb Flag of New Zealand.svg   Auckland FC
South Melbourne   Flag of Australia (converted).svg 24 Feb Flag of French Polynesia.svg   Tahiti United
Vanuatu United   Flag of Vanuatu.svg 25 Feb Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg   Solomon Kings
PNG Hekari   Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 25 Feb Flag of Fiji.svg   Bula FC
Auckland FC   Flag of New Zealand.svg 27 Feb Flag of French Polynesia.svg   Tahiti United
South Melbourne   Flag of Australia (converted).svg 27 Feb Flag of New Zealand.svg   South Island United
Vanuatu United   Flag of Vanuatu.svg 28 Feb Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg   PNG Hekari
Solomon Kings   Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 28 Feb Flag of Fiji.svg   Bula FC
Circuit 4
Home teamScoreAway team
South Island United   Flag of New Zealand.svg 14 Mar Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg   PNG Hekari
Solomon Kings   Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 14 Mar Flag of New Zealand.svg   Auckland FC
Vanuatu United   Flag of Vanuatu.svg 15 Mar Flag of Australia (converted).svg   South Melbourne
Bula FC   Flag of Fiji.svg 15 Mar Flag of French Polynesia.svg   Tahiti United
Vanuatu United   Flag of Vanuatu.svg 18 Mar Flag of New Zealand.svg   Auckland FC
PNG Hekari   Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 18 Mar Flag of French Polynesia.svg   Tahiti United
South Island United   Flag of New Zealand.svg 19 Mar Flag of Fiji.svg   Bula FC
Solomon Kings   Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 19 Mar Flag of Australia (converted).svg   South Melbourne
Circuit 5
Home teamScoreAway team
Vanuatu United   Flag of Vanuatu.svg 11 Apr Flag of New Zealand.svg   South Island United
Tahiti United   Flag of French Polynesia.svg 11 Apr Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg   Solomon Kings
Auckland FC   Flag of New Zealand.svg 12 Apr Flag of Australia (converted).svg   South Melbourne
Bula FC   Flag of Fiji.svg 12 Apr Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg   PNG Hekari
South Island United   Flag of New Zealand.svg 14 Apr Flag of French Polynesia.svg   Tahiti United
Solomon Kings   Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg 14 Apr Flag of Vanuatu.svg   Vanuatu United
Auckland FC   Flag of New Zealand.svg 15 Apr Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg   PNG Hekari
South Melbourne   Flag of Australia (converted).svg 15 Apr Flag of Fiji.svg   Bula FC
South Island United   Flag of New Zealand.svg 17 Apr Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg   Solomon Kings
Tahiti United   Flag of French Polynesia.svg 17 Apr Flag of Vanuatu.svg   Vanuatu United
South Melbourne   Flag of Australia (converted).svg 18 Apr Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg   PNG Hekari
Bula FC   Flag of Fiji.svg 18 Apr Flag of New Zealand.svg   Auckland FC

See also

References

  1. ↑ "OFC plans to deliver professional league in 2021". The National. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  2. ↑ Ewart, Richard (December 2022). "OFC Pro League could feature composite Pacific island teams and marquee players from overseas". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Preferred clubs announced for historic OFC Professional League". oceaniafootball.com. Oceania Football Confederation. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  4. ↑ Monteverde, Marco (29 August 2025). "Australia to be represented in new Oceania professional competition by South Melbourne". news.com.au . Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "New Zealand's newest professional club will compete as South Island United". Friends of Football. 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  6. ↑ "Expressions of interest open for inaugural OFC Professional League". Oceania Football Confederation. 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  7. ↑ "OFC Professional League Enters Next Stage". Papua New Guinea Post Courier. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Match schedule confirmed for OFC Pro League". OFC Pro League. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Auckland FC". OFC Pro League. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Sacha Pisani (14 March 2024). "Historic day for A-Leagues as new Auckland team reveals name, logo and inaugural jersey". A-Leagues.
  11. ↑ "All in for Auckland: Auckland FC Launches 25/26 Season Home & Away Jersey". Auckland FC. 28 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Chand, Simran (24 October 2025). "Auvray, Rodu to lead Bula FC in Pro League". FBC News . Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Brazilian imports boost PNG Hekari ahead of OFC Professional League launch". friendsoffootballnz.com. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "Solomon Kings gets big sponsorship deal from Solomon Ports". Solomon Star. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "Christchurch United sign coach Rob Sherman". NZ Sports Wire. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "South Island United to play in new pro football league". Otago Daily Times. 8 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  17. ↑ "South Melbourne FC". OFC Pro League. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Kappa joins forces with South Melbourne FC". South Melbourne FC. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Tahiti United FC". OFC Pro League. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Le Tahiti United FC dans les starting-block de l'OFC Pro League 2026 !" [Tahiti United FC is ready to go for the OFC Pro League 2026!]. Tahiti United (in French). 3 November 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025– via Instagram.
  21. ↑ "Lars Hopp Appointed as Head Coach of the Vanuatu Men's National Team and Vanuatu United FC". Vanuatu Football Federation. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 "Brazilian imports boost PNG Hekari ahead of OFC Professional League launch". Friends of Football NZ. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  23. 1 2 Chandar, Reginald (13 November 2025). "Orobulu and Alick join PNG's Hekari for Pro League". Fiji Live. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  24. ↑ Brew, Andy (4 December 2025). "Nelson footballers embark on professional football dream with South Island United". The Press NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  25. ↑ "South Melbourne sign Yuki Uchida". South Melbourne FC. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  26. ↑ Molivakoro, Vourie (31 October 2025). "Vanuatu United FC signs first player". Daily Post Digital. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  27. ↑ Molivakoro, Vourie (6 November 2025). "Vanuatu United FC signs second foreign player". Daily Post Digital. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  28. ↑ Molivakoro, Vourie (14 November 2025). "Vanuatu United FC signs Jordy Tasip". Daily Post Digital. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  29. ↑ "Vanuatu United FC adds two more players". Daily Post Digital. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  30. ↑ Molivakoro, Vourie (15 November 2025). "19-year-old PNG defender joins Vanuatu United FC". Daily Post Digital. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  31. ↑ "Vanuatu United FC Signs PNG Young Defender Raymond Diho". Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "Expressions of interest open for inaugural OFC Professional League". Oceania Football Confederation. 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  33. ↑ friendsoffootballnz_irqgpj (2025-10-26). "Saudi tourism body to invest almost NZ$35 million in new OFC Pro' League". Friends of Football. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  34. ↑ "OFC Professional League Competition Regulations" (PDF). Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
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