OFC Professional League

Last updated

OFC Professional League
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Organising body OFC
First season 2026
CountryVarious (see § Clubs)
Confederation OFC
Number of clubs8
Current: 2026 OFC Professional League

The OFC Professional League (also known as the OFC Pro League) is a professional association football league organised by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). Planned to debut in the 2026 season, it is the first fully-professional association football league in Oceania, and consists of eight clubs based in countries across Oceania and Australia. The league's competition will feature a double round-robin with all eight teams, after which the four best-performing teams are split from the worst four for a third and final round-robin that determines four berths in a championship-deciding knockout tournament. The league's champion will qualify for the annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the league will also serve as a pathway to the quadrennial FIFA Club World Cup.

Contents

The Pro League was founded in 2019 as part of an effort by the OFC to foster professionalism in Oceanian football. It initially planned to commence play in 2021, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania. Expressions of interest from clubs in various countries were received ahead of the selection of the league's eight charter clubs in August 2025.

History

In 2019, the Oceania Football Confederation formed a task force to determine the viability of a professional football league for the Oceania region. [1] The league was initially expected to begin play in 2021. [2] However, progress was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] In November 2022 in Doha, Qatar, the OFC Executive Committee voted to move forward with the league, initially targeting a 2025 launch. [3] The launch was later postponed to 2026 to allow clubs time to transition to fully professional status. [4] In January 2024, the OFC announced plans to implement the VAR system for the league's first season. [5] The league's formation and development operated on the following timeline: [6]

On 29 January 2025, the OFC held a meeting at its headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand to discuss the league with potential New Zealand-based clubs. [7] The OFC also opened expressions of interest for clubs across the region to participate in the inaugural season. [8] Additionally, Australian-based clubs were invited to participate. [9] By February 2025, initial interest had been received from clubs in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. [10] Among the clubs that submitted expressions of interest to the OFC were Eastern United and Sunshine Coast Fire from Australia, [11] [12] Wellington Phoenix FC and Nelson Suburbs from New Zealand, [13] [14] Bougainville FC, Port Moresby FC, and Lae City FC from Papua New Guinea, [12] and Real Kakamora F.C. from the Solomon Islands. [13] The participants in the league's inaugural season were announced in August 2025. [15]

Format

The competition plans to runs from January to May. It will feature five circuit series rounds held across various Pacific locations in a double round-robin format, with each team playing a minimum of 14 matches. Following the regular season, teams will be split into two playoff groups:

The semi-finals and grand final will be single-leg matches, ensuring every game carries high stakes. The season will conclude with the crowning of the inaugural OFC Professional League Champions. [8] The league will also serve as Oceania's qualifying pathway for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. [8]

Clubs

OFC Professional League
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2000km
1243miles
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Locations of clubs competing in the 2026 season.

As of its inaugural 2026 season, eight clubs have been selected to compete in the OFC Professional League, including four from Melanesia, three from Polynesia, and one from Australia. [16] [17] [18] Auckland FC, Christchurch United, Hekari United F.C. and South Melbourne FC were pre-existing clubs, while Bula Boys FC, Solomon Kings FC, Tahiti United FC, and Vanuatu FC were new clubs created for the competition. South Melbourne FC, an Australian club under the jurisdiction of the Asian Football Confederation, is a fully-expatriated member, [19] [20] [21] though Solomon Kings FC is partly owned by another Australian club, Wynnum Wolves FC. [22] [23]

The vision of the league is to create a pathway for Oceania's players to be scouted and join top clubs in Australia, Asia, and Europe. [2] An early roster concept includes composite teams similar to Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika, with squads primarily built upon Oceanian players and featuring marquee players from other regions. [1] As part of their inclusion in the competition, Auckland FC will field an age-restricted side. [18]

List of OFC Professional League teams (2026)
TeamCityCountryHome groundCap.First
Auckland FC Auckland Flag of New Zealand.svg New ZealandTBDTBD2026
Bula Boys FC TBD Flag of Fiji.svg FijiTBDTBD2026
Christchurch United Christchurch Flag of New Zealand.svg New ZealandTBDTBD2026
Hekari United F.C. Port Moresby Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New GuineaTBDTBD2026
Solomon Kings FC TBD Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon IslandsTBDTBD2026
South Melbourne FC Melbourne Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Lakeside Stadium [18] [24] 12,0002026
Tahiti United FC Pīraʻe Flag of French Polynesia.svg French Polynesia Stade Pater [25] [26] 15,0002026
Vanuatu FC TBD Flag of Vanuatu.svg VanuatuTBDTBD2026

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 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.
  2. 1 2 "OFC plans to deliver professional league in 2021". The National. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. "OFC Professional League Enters Next Stage". Papua New Guinea Post Courier. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  4. Lammers, Coen. "OFC President Sees Life's Work Come to Fruition at OFC Men's Nations Cup". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. "VAR a game changer for OFC". Oceania Football. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  6. "Expressions of interest open for inaugural OFC Professional League". Oceania Football Confederation. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  7. "New Zealand clubs interested in joining OFC Professional League to meet in Auckland". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Expressions of interest open for inaugural OFC Professional League". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  9. "Expressions of interest from Australian clubs welcomed as OFC Professional League gathers pace". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  10. Tora, Iliesa. "Teams invited to apply for OFC pro-league spots ahead of 2026 kick-off". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  11. "𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 Eastern United Football Club can confirm that we have submitted an application to join the inaugural @ofcfootball (OFC) Professional League. Read the Statement below. Once a 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭. always a 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭.🔴⚫️". Eastern United. 12 August 2025 via Instagram.
  12. 1 2 "Queensland club become 11th to confirm bid to join OFC Professional League". FriendsOfFootballl. 14 March 2025.
  13. 1 2 "More clubs publicly declare interest in joining new OFC Professional League". ThePress. 11 March 2025.
  14. "Auckland FC, Nelson Suburbs among Kiwi football clubs to express interest in Oceania League". ThePress. 5 March 2025.
  15. "Preferred clubs announced for historic OFC Professional League". oceaniafootball.com. Oceania Football Confederation. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  16. Smith, Tony (29 August 2025). "Wellington Phoenix furious at OFC Professional League snubbing with Auckland FC, Christchurch United confirmed". The Post . Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  17. "Auckland and Christchuch to enter OFC Professional League". Radio New Zealand . 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 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.
  19. Chand, Simran (29 August 2025). "Only one Fijian club makes the cut for OFC league". FBC News . Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  20. "Hekari to enter OFC Professional League". The National . 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  21. "Hekari United FC confirmed for inaugural OFC Professional League". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier . 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  22. Tora, Iliesa (4 July 2025). "Solomon King FC in contention for inaugural OFC Professional League". Radio New Zealand . Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  23. Atfield, Cameron (17 August 2025). "After PNG, Australia's soft power game with China extends to Solomons" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025. Solomon Kings FC, a joint venture between the Solomon Islands Football Federation and Brisbane club Wynnum Wolves,
  24. "South Melbourne FC accepted into newly formulated Oceania Professional League". The Greek Herald . 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  25. Réné, Charlie (28 August 2025). "Tahiti United sera bien le premier club de foot professionnel polynésien" [Tahiti United will be the first professional Polynesian club]. Radio 1  [ fr ] (in French). Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  26. Rodor, Manu (29 August 2025). "Tahiti United est officiellement créé" [Tahiti United is officially founded]. Tahiti Infos  [ fr ] (in French). Archived from the original on 30 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.