about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
AucklandPhoenix
It’s a little strange. Maybe they have developed a relationship with Auckland FC which benefits both parties?
Nah, there is no relationship between the two whatsoever. Quite frosty between both clubs apparently.
Probably quite a smart play from ACFC though. Despite all the expenses apparently being covered by FIFA for this league, contracting a squad will likely run the clubs involved 100's of thousands of $$$. Big ask to recoup that through sponsorship, and will ultimately lead to backers/owners having to dip into their back pockets to prop up a setup.
Be truely fascinating to see how AFC and the Nix would make this work. Cross over between members of their top team squad, under 21s and likely another squad.
If there is max 2 teams per country and assuming Christchurch gets one license, it could well come down to a shoot out between the Nix and AFC.
You would have to assume with Auckland’s transport hub to the pacific and island demographics that they would be hard to beat.
Apparently South Melbourne will still compete in the in the NPL and Championship when the Pro league is in its off season. They have permission from both football Australia and football Vic which is kind of surprising. Feel like if they're gonna be professional then they shouldn't compete in the NPL but maybe he's just talking about the reserves.
On one hand I feel like he should just wait for the Championship to grow into a fully pro h&a comp since it seems more financially viable than the pro league but then again the Championship is having it's own problem
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
Perhaps Auckland City have got an early heads up, that Auckland FC Reserves will be one of the 2 NZ teams.
They surely won't have more than one team in Auckland. But given NZ's biggest city, is the main air transport hub for the Pacific region, strong chance OFC will put one team in the 09. OFC are after all also headquartered in the City of Cars.
APL were wowed by Foley's multi club model, and billionaire backing when handing out the licence for the A League's newest team. It wouldn't surprise if the same applies with the OFC and this new pro league.
Spending some cash on upgrading OFC football facilities in Auckland, or around the Pacific as a whole would be chump change to Foley.
Maybe OFC would dictate they have to have 3-5 non Kiwi OFC players in the Reserves squad or something. So they can market themselves as helping young talented Island eligible players based in NZ. Fijian Semi Nabenu is already in this year's AFC Reserves squad.
Similar with Christchurch United getting a team in this new comp. Slava Meyn is a wealthy guy, and there are apparently some excellent facilities out at Yaldhurst that would be handy when hosting 8 teams, and a 1-2 week long hub.
OFC will want a financially stable comp as early as possible, so it wouldn't surprise if the chosen clubs are those with the money and existing top class facilities.
Apparently South Melbourne will still compete in the in the NPL and Championship when the Pro league is in its off season. They have permission from both football Australia and football Vic which is kind of surprising. Feel like if they're gonna be professional then they shouldn't compete in the NPL but maybe he's just talking about the reserves.
On one hand I feel like he should just wait for the Championship to grow into a fully pro h&a comp since it seems more financially viable than the pro league but then again the Championship is having it's own problem
Apparently South Melbourne will still compete in the in the NPL and Championship when the Pro league is in its off season. They have permission from both football Australia and football Vic which is kind of surprising. Feel like if they're gonna be professional then they shouldn't compete in the NPL but maybe he's just talking about the reserves.
On one hand I feel like he should just wait for the Championship to grow into a fully pro h&a comp since it seems more financially viable than the pro league but then again the Championship is having it's own problem
Apparently South Melbourne will still compete in the in the NPL and Championship when the Pro league is in its off season. They have permission from both football Australia and football Vic which is kind of surprising. Feel like if they're gonna be professional then they shouldn't compete in the NPL but maybe he's just talking about the reserves.
On one hand I feel like he should just wait for the Championship to grow into a fully pro h&a comp since it seems more financially viable than the pro league but then again the Championship is having it's own problem
So yeah, as you thought, they plan to have a pro squad for OFC and a reserves team for NPL and Aussie Championship
In that case I really feel like they shouldn't be apart of the Championship, feel like it would just seriously devalue the comp to have a reserves team in it. Whole point was to be a national comp for the best non-a-league clubs, so having a reserves team would kinda stain it.
Aus Championship (2nd Tier) is running Sept-Nov? At the end of the NPL seasons.
OFC pro league is running Jan-May. So no overlap.
So in theory, only their Vic NPL team would be affected ie more a Reserves team.
My issue is more so a professional team competing with semi-pro teams. The championships plans to become pro but (from what I'm aware of) right now it's a semi-pro competition until it can build to being professional. Just feel like a fully professional team shouldn't be competing with semi-pros since it makes the winner kinda obvious.
Then again the FA is apparently fine with it so who am I to complain?
This all sounds very fine. 3 of a kind, amateur, pro, semi-pro in two different confederations.
But they better not be able to qualify for the CWC through Oceania.
What’s the odds of a deal of that being fine and AFC being able to play in the Asian confederation cup competitions?
I’d love that outcome.
Any side in the A League can play Asian continental football and any club in the OFC pro league can qualify for the CWC that way. Potentially Nix and AFC get two bites of the apple and the Oceania club of the century can come out of the Victory/City shadow.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
New Zealand’s two A-League clubs have now both declared their interest in entering the Oceania Football Confederation Professional League.
The Wellington Phoenix confirmed on Wednesday that they had submitted an expression of interest in the new eight-team Oceania league, joining A-League rivals Auckland FC on a list of six hopeful New Zealand clubs.
"The Wellington Phoenix have formally entered an expression of interest in the OFC Professional League, due to kick off next year,“ Phoenix general manager David Dome said.
"We look forward to learning more from OFC about all of the licensing requirements."
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
Yeah the process is openly being declared. Anyone from Nelson Suburbs to Bill Foley's NZ franchise can submit a EOI. That's democracy at work. How many of those 24 EOIs get to the next stage, we wait to find out.
OFC badly want the thing to work, so yeah of course you go through a proper DD process. I expect the most monied applications with good facilities get the 8 spots, noting it's a max of 2 teams per country. And yes you can expand in the future all going well.
The race is now on for clubs to secure a spot in the elite eight-team competition, which will run from early January to May 2026, with the application process continuing through until the end of June.
Timeline: End of June 2025: Conclusion of the club application process. August 2025: OFC Club Licensing Committee’s recommendations to the OFC Executive Committee. September 2025: Final approval and issuance of licenses to the eight selected clubs. January 2026: OFC Professional League kicks off.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
Tyler
It does seem confusing to me that the Phoenix and Auckland could enter. Seems they are getting the best out of two federations (Asia and Oceania).
We are just at the early EOI stage. It might after further discussions between FIFA, AFC and OFC that they can't.
But if bringing in NZ's 2 well resourced ALM clubs (well their Reserve teams) gives the new OFC pro league a better chance of succeeding, then yeah I can see FIFA making some sort of exemptions. Infantino wants OFC's 10 votes at the next FIFA elections. He wants this league to happen, and last for the long term..
I can see NZF being keen on teams in Auckland and Christchurch. Pragnell wants pro football in NZ to have a national footprint, and if a 3rd A League club can't yet be launched in the Sth Island, this new OFC League is a useful cheaper option.
Maybe the Nix and ChCh United could do some sort of partnership arrangement. Some Weenix players going down to ChCh for 6 mths. The OFC league team a pathway to the Nix ALM squad. Something like that. Probably unlikely. But the Melbourne Storm NRL club, have their reserve players playing for feeder club Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup league comp. A 2 hour plane ride. So not complete madness.
Voerman also said on Twitter/X: "Think there is some sort of Auckland-based group (potentially the "other stakeholders" Ivan Vuksich has "provided consultation to in a private capacity," per ACFC's announcement)"
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
I was a big proponent of this league when the idea first came to light - despite its many pitfalls and giant leaps into the unknown...
But how this is all playing out, I'm secretly hoping after all of this that the NZ entries come from the four applicants who aren't in the professional space already...
After all, that's what I thought the premise of this league was going to be - Promotion of the pro game outside already established avenues.
On a personal level I think Christchurch should have a presence given its our 2nd biggest city, with a lot of untapped potential, and then perhaps this other Auckland lot that Vuksich is advising.
Also, am I right in thinking if they choose one of the Nix & AFC, then they'd also have to choose the other?
carlindHalf a PintLT01Nelfoos+3newzealandpower, reg22, Shambles
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
There maybe some reason that if OFC selects one of the AM clubs, they need to also select the other. But at face value don't see one. They play in an AFC comp. They are privately owned clubs, that are separate to OFC or even NZF.
I just see OFC wanting a team in Auckland. The biggest transport hub in the Pacific and where OFC are headquartered. I can see them being seduced by the wealth of AFC, who through Foley and Mowbray/Williams may promise some infrastructure spending in OFC. Multi international club pathways etc etc. Maybe a minimum Island player (NZ born Pasika kids) quota.
I'd be surprised on the othe hand, if the other NZ team was not in the South Island. But just all guess work.
Key details - Only one of the four Australian bids will enter the OFC Pro League (at least for the inaugural edition) - On April 30 the OFC will determine which clubs progress to the ‘Club Licensing Phase’ - They are also looking to compete in the National Second Tier in Australia
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
Well at the moment the only non NSW(Sydney)/VIC teams in the National 2nd tier (Championship) will be the NPL champs of QLD, ACT, Nth NSW, Tassie, SA & WA.
And that won't be the Sunshine Coast Fire, unless they go on a player buying spree. They struggle in the QLD NPL.
Tahitian EOI is likely to be AS Vénus, they announced their candidacy on their Facebook page in December. Things may have changed since then but it's likely them.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
The other screw up was playing Deklan Wynne in Olympics qualifiers when he wasn't eligible. Cost a whole age cohort a chance of going to the Rio Olympics.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
chopah
2ndBest
There is the rumoured Auckland Conglomeration FC ft Auckland City and a few other auckland clubs.
So yet another loose statement from Auckland City saying they won't be involved in any capacity.
Basically we are speaking to our lawyers and accountants to see what setup do we need, to be in the new OFC League, but still not be in a pro league so we don't lose our Trillian Trust cash! Auckland City Central FC?? Dodgy Entity no 3 FC?
Still I see OFC being seduced by Auckland FC's resources, and their Reserves getting the spot of any Auckland team in the comp.
Sense that scenario will make Ivan Vuksich quite a grumpy man. He had thought for years he/Auckland City would be involved in any Auckland A League club, and it hurts that he or ACFC are not. Double the pain if in the future the regular FIFA tourney partipication (CWC/Intercontinental Cup) ceases. ACFC will just be a another NZ National League club. Wonder if the other Northern Region clubs with their AFC MOUs are quiety happy that the arrival of Auckland FC, will lead to Auckland City (no AFC MOU?) being less a power on the local scene. That and OFC's spot at future FIFA tourneys going to teams in the new OFC pro league. Interesting times ahead.
Auckland City FC wishes to clarify its position regarding the OFC Pro League following recent media inquiries.
Auckland City FC has not submitted an expression of interest for the OFC Pro League and will not be participating in the competition in any capacity.
As a respected club with a long-standing commitment to football in Oceania, Auckland City FC continues to support the growth and development of the game across the region.
Chairperson Ivan Vuksich has provided consultation in a private capacity to other stakeholders exploring opportunities within the OFC Pro League.
The club's immediate focus remains on preparing for the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025™, competing in the OFC Champions League, Northern League, Chatham Cup and National League Championship, and continuing its role in shaping football development in New Zealand and the Pacific.
