OFC Professional League

Solomons (thanks China), Fiji and PNG all have suitable stadiums. Taiwan were to build the stadium in Honiara for the Pacific Games, but then the Chinese paid off some SI minsters and got the job. 

But yeah looking at the AWs playing in Port Vila last year, you'd ideally spend some money in Vanuatu on facilities.

Tahiti a bit tricky to get to. Having a Hawaiian team would help. New Caledonia has had some nasty civil unrest (almost a civil war) the last 12 months. That likely a problem re setting up a team there at the moment.

We wait to see how it all unfolds. 

theprof

martinb

It’d be odd to do it without the French teams. Usually two of the better nations in the confederation. Though the whole concept is odd anyway. FIFA is funding…flights? Stadium building? Clearing the toads?

Wouldn’t mind a 1% levy on every Champions League player, plus a fee from their clubs to make it happen…it doesn’t sound very FIFA though.

What happens if for whatever reason there are cost overruns and the budget allocated doesn’t get it all done? 

Or some of the money provided gets lost and it all falls over.

I said what I said that doesn’t necessarily imply that…

martinb

theprof

martinb

It’d be odd to do it without the French teams. Usually two of the better nations in the confederation. Though the whole concept is odd anyway. FIFA is funding…flights? Stadium building? Clearing the toads?

Wouldn’t mind a 1% levy on every Champions League player, plus a fee from their clubs to make it happen…it doesn’t sound very FIFA though.

What happens if for whatever reason there are cost overruns and the budget allocated doesn’t get it all done? 

Or some of the money provided gets lost and it all falls over.

I said what I said that doesn’t necessarily imply that…

We all know the history, FIFA and OFC all have recent cases of paper bags of money disappearing.

The other thing is that football is an entertainment business. How are they going to distribute it and who is going to be able to watch it? 

If it’s going to make a big difference that’s a real key and if better internet coverage, or public transport or electricity is a result to allow people to watch or get to a place where they can watch then that’s good. 

But same as here publicity and access is guna make it worthwhile. You’d also think that a league constantly won by an NZ or Aussie team might not have the draw a genuinely competitive league might.

Assuming they’re not already watching the Premier League and think the local product isn’t worth watching because of that…

You get the feeling the Island nations are a bit sick of Auckland City (and Team Wellington once) always being OFC's team at the CWC, and now also Intercontinental Cup. They likely feel having their own fully pro club teams gives them a better chance of breaking that virtual NZ monopoly.
 
I reckon they will certainly be more competitive playing in NZ and Aussie as full pros rather than amateurs, esp with some visa players fleshing out their squads. Would there be many EPL snobs in the Islands? They packed out the stands in Port Vila at the OFC Nations Cup last year, when the home team was playing. You'd think would be the same in football mad Honiara. Likely less so Fiji & PNG where yes the rugby codes are strong.

The Aus Govt is throwing $500M (over 5-10 years) to setup the new NRL team in PNG, but that yes that also includes some related infrastructure stuff (Aus Aid).

That would seem outside the mandate of what FIFA can provide. But you can see them bringing in a shark load of cash & resources re marketing, facilities, staff, media, pitch upgrades etc etc. The newly appointed league Project Manager is a European. Graft & corruption scandals are bad for FIFA's public image, and did eventually bring down Blatter. Infantino won't want to see those days return, but yeah he will want OFC's 11 votes at the next President election

It does look like a recipe for disaster commercially which no right minded person would invest within but hey if money bags FIFA want to give money away, the island countries should take it

Do we know which teams showed up to the meeting today? Figure it'll mainly be Auckland teams since the Wellington market is pretty firmly cornered and Christchurch may be considered too far away for the other teams. 

coochiee

Solomons (thanks China), Fiji and PNG all have suitable stadiums. Taiwan were to build the stadium in Honiara for the Pacific Games, but then the Chinese paid off some SI minsters and got the job. 

But yeah looking at the AWs playing in Port Vila last year, you'd ideally spend some money in Vanuatu on facilities.

Tahiti a bit tricky to get to. Having a Hawaiian team would help. New Caledonia has had some nasty civil unrest (almost a civil war) the last 12 months. That likely a problem re setting up a team there at the moment.

We wait to see how it all unfolds. 

That stadium in Port Vila that the All Whites played at last year is already the result of FIFA money.

FIFA paid for that stadium to be built and it was completed as recently as 2022 - you wouldn't know by looking at it though

coochiee

You get the feeling the Island nations are a bit sick of Auckland City (and Team Wellington once) always being OFC's team at the CWC, and now also Intercontinental Cup. They likely feel having their own fully pro club teams gives them a better chance of breaking that virtual NZ monopoly.
 
I reckon they will certainly be more competitive playing in NZ and Aussie as full pros rather than amateurs, esp with some visa players fleshing out their squads. Would there be many EPL snobs in the Islands? They packed out the stands in Port Vila at the OFC Nations Cup last year, when the home team was playing. You'd think would be the same in football mad Honiara. Likely less so Fiji & PNG where yes the rugby codes are strong.

The Aus Govt is throwing $500M (over 5-10 years) to setup the new NRL team in PNG, but that yes that also includes some related infrastructure stuff (Aus Aid).

That would seem outside the mandate of what FIFA can provide. But you can see them bringing in a shark load of cash & resources re marketing, facilities, staff, media, pitch upgrades etc etc. The newly appointed league Project Manager is a European. Graft & corruption scandals are bad for FIFA's public image, and did eventually bring down Blatter. Infantino won't want to see those days return, but yeah he will want OFC's 11 votes at the next President election

Also on the topic of the NZ monopoly at the CWC. 

If this new competition has a finals series, you could conceivably end up with an NZ club vs Aus club in one semi final and 2 Island clubs in the other - if the Aussie team won through to the final it would give an island club qualification through to the CWC as the Aussie teams wouldn't be eligible to take an OFC slot.

Not that different to the ALM, then especially now with 2 NZ teams.

What if say Auckland win the Premiers Plate, and the Grand Final. What Australian team qualifies for The AFC Champions League Elite? The Australian team 2nd in the regular season, or the beaten grand finalist? That's assuming they are different teams


And re the stadium at Port Vila, wasn't aware that it had already had a FIFA upgrade. I mean the cameras at the Nations Cup were always looking away from the grandstand towards the houses & grassy bank, so making it all look a bit basic/rustic. But hey we know it's not the EPL. A bigger concern is likely the bumpy pitch. Will always be difficult to improve playing standards in the Islands if the pitches are shark, with any sort of possession football tough

How are the artificials going at a lower level in NZ? I know they have them in Scandinavia and lower leagues in Britain too. Though this might be because of the amount of rain, rather than lack of sun or amount of snow? 

Apparently the problem in the Islands (well Port Vila anyway) is the native tropical grasses just take over, from the perennial ryegrasses that the groundsmen need to get quality true piches.

You'd think FIFA would have some great technological knowledge in this space? Like would be a similar problem through Central America, parts of Africa and Asia. Basically anywhere near the Equator at sea level. Plenty of these countries have held FIFA tournaments where the expectation is high quality pitches. 

Noah4thenix

Do we know which teams showed up to the meeting today? Figure it'll mainly be Auckland teams since the Wellington market is pretty firmly cornered and Christchurch may be considered too far away for the other teams. 

Would assume one would be Auckland City, for a number of reasons really.
• Exposure/pathways to the pro game that they can sell to guys coming through.
• Money behind them from owners/CWC etc means they're better placed than most.
• Only Northern League club (I think) that hasn't signed an MoU with AFC for for talent development and pathways.
 
+ A few others I'm sure.

Noah4thenix

Do we know which teams showed up to the meeting today? Figure it'll mainly be Auckland teams since the Wellington market is pretty firmly cornered and Christchurch may be considered too far away for the other teams. 

I jogged past Ngahue at lunchtime.  There were no team branded cars in the car park!

Just catching up on this. Why are Australian teams involved if this is for OFC?

Elemenop

Just catching up on this. Why are Australian teams involved if this is for OFC?

Read up through the thread, plus this article.
https://nit.com.au/29-11-2024/15144/oceania-football-confederation-set-to-launch-the-pacific-football-league-inside-the-next-two-years

Primarily Aussie Govt is interested for geo political reasons, read China push back.

Aussie age group teams have started playing matches in the Islands again, in conjunction with Aus Aid (Australian Govt agency).

Having an Aussie team(s) would also be useful re flights. As some of the Island nations have limited flights between each other. Teams going in & out of Brisbane or Sydney helps with that.

Elemenop

Just catching up on this. Why are Australian teams involved if this is for OFC?

Just wait until you hear about the possible Hawaiian team!

Basically take off your football hat for a moment, and put on your political one. Get a feel for how Australia and the US at last realise they have been asleep at the wheel, with China encroaching further into the Pacific.

As an aside speaking to an Aussie pilot the other day, who has spent many years flying around PNG, the Solomons etc.

He has mates who fly the giant freight Globemaster planes, for a company that contracts to the US military. On the eve of the US election last year, they flew a secret mission from Stateside across to 4 US military bases in Japan. Delivering high level ordance (bombs), all in preparation for a Harris/Dems victory and possible immediate Chinese invasion of Taiwan. 

Fudge knows how real that perceived risk really was. But yeah a little window, into the quiet power struggles happening not far from us.

Football diplomacy, all just a little byproduct of this stuff.

coochiee

Basically take off your football hat for a moment, and put on your political one. Get a feel for how Australia and the US at last realise they have been asleep at the wheel, with China encroaching further into the Pacific.

As an aside speaking to an Aussie pilot the other day, who has spent many years flying around PNG, the Solomons etc.

He has mates who fly the giant freight Globemaster planes, for a company that contracts to the US military. On the eve of the US election last year, they flew a secret mission from Stateside across to 4 US military bases in Japan. Delivering high level ordance (bombs), all in preparation for a Harris/Dems victory and possible immediate Chinese invasion of Taiwan. 

Fudge knows how real that perceived risk really was. But yeah a little window, into the quiet power struggles happening not far from us.

Football diplomacy, all just a little byproduct of this stuff.

You could sell that little bit of info to Murdoch and pay off your mortgage.

No Hawaiian team in this new pro league apparently. Blocked by the powers that be in US Football (Soccer).

🥲

Sounds like some trump shark for the morons of the States to digest before  the night before the election.

Jessie Merino

coochiee

Basically take off your football hat for a moment, and put on your political one. Get a feel for how Australia and the US at last realise they have been asleep at the wheel, with China encroaching further into the Pacific.

As an aside speaking to an Aussie pilot the other day, who has spent many years flying around PNG, the Solomons etc.

He has mates who fly the giant freight Globemaster planes, for a company that contracts to the US military. On the eve of the US election last year, they flew a secret mission from Stateside across to 4 US military bases in Japan. Delivering high level ordance (bombs), all in preparation for a Harris/Dems victory and possible immediate Chinese invasion of Taiwan. 

Fudge knows how real that perceived risk really was. But yeah a little window, into the quiet power struggles happening not far from us.

Football diplomacy, all just a little byproduct of this stuff.

You could sell that little bit of info to Murdoch and pay off your mortgage.

YoungHeartHM

No Hawaiian team in this new pro league apparently. Blocked by the powers that be in US Football (Soccer).

🥲

Source for this?

AucklandPhoenix

Sounds like some trump shark for the morons of the States to digest before  the night before the election.

Jessie Merino

coochiee

Basically take off your football hat for a moment, and put on your political one. Get a feel for how Australia and the US at last realise they have been asleep at the wheel, with China encroaching further into the Pacific.

As an aside speaking to an Aussie pilot the other day, who has spent many years flying around PNG, the Solomons etc.

He has mates who fly the giant freight Globemaster planes, for a company that contracts to the US military. On the eve of the US election last year, they flew a secret mission from Stateside across to 4 US military bases in Japan. Delivering high level ordance (bombs), all in preparation for a Harris/Dems victory and possible immediate Chinese invasion of Taiwan. 

Fudge knows how real that perceived risk really was. But yeah a little window, into the quiet power struggles happening not far from us.

Football diplomacy, all just a little byproduct of this stuff.

You could sell that little bit of info to Murdoch and pay off your mortgage.

Would seem yes unlikely China would try invade Taiwan. But I have little doubt that one day in their view the planets will align to yes go in. Hopefully not in my life time.

Sorry getting off topic, but the gist is any new pro sport setup in the Pacific, like PNG's coming NRL team, or this OFC football league ain't just about sport.
 

LT01

YoungHeartHM

No Hawaiian team in this new pro league apparently. Blocked by the powers that be in US Football (Soccer).

🥲

Source for this?

Trust me bro. 😂

Nah, I got told about it today after the meetings that have been taking place re: this new professional league over the past day or so.

Lots of chat around this new pro league and the OFC Champions League that I think is being mixed up or lost in translation though. I'm still trying to work out a lot of it for myself.

Some of the feedback I'd also received from it was that there was a desire to get the Phoenix and AFC involved in this pro league somehow... 

But if that were the case, and this is my strong opinion here - Then it would only be the reserves, and even if that option was on the table, then the Nix and AFC would be better suited to just play their Northern, Central, and National League campaigns respectively. I don't see what either club would get out of sending reserve teams to the islands. That, and I thought this whole league concept would open doors for players and clubs who already sat in that sort of semi-professional space, to be able to move the next rung up on the ladder, rather than it being about bringing already established clubs into the fold.

I will try to decipher some more stuff and keep you in the loop though. 🙂

Yeah I mentioned earlier this new league might suit the Nix and AFC for their reserve teams. But only if FIFA was basically financing the whole thing.

But read the new league is due to kick off Jan 2026. So assuming pre season starts about Nov this year, you get a better alignment with the ALM, than the current winter Central League/spring National League setup for the Weenix. It would almost take you back to the Handy Prem days, when senior guys returning from injury or needing game time, would drop down and play a game for the Weenix in January or February.

Another attraction is you would get your Academy guys conditioned to flying for away games every 2nd weekend, just like the ALM.

And the best one, possible qualification for the CWC or annual Intercontinental Cup, if yes the winner of this OFC league, is to be OFC's club at those FIFA events. That's if ALM reserve teams would be eligible to go as OFC's representative to this FIFA tourneys.

Negatives.
The football is going to be of a questionable standard on those bumpy Island pitches in the heat. Does that help young player development.

And does the new league itself want ALM reserve teams in it, who will realistically struggle to draw much of a crowd for their home games in Auckland or Welly. That like all reserve teams in any league in the world. Generally no one turns up to watch them, excpt real club diehard tragics. Not a great look for this new league a game at Fraser Park in front of 200.

You'd think if proper National League clubs like Auckland City, Olympic or ChCh United entered this new league they would get decent enough crowds.


Any thought of the Nix or AFC leaving the A League proper (ie their senior squads), for this new OFC league you just can't see happening. Sure it's not ideal playing in a league in a different Confed (AFC), but it would be a huge backwards step, for the code the two clubs jumping ship into OFC. Especially for the women's game which is so weak in OFC. I'm sure it's not seriously being considered. Just the idea of maybe entering their reserve teams, esp if yes FIFA funds it all, and there is a possibility of qualifying for those big world club events.

Anything thatb is this politicised will not end up being about the football - not totally at least which will reduce the impact on football development. It will be all about Aussie buying a few more friends in the Pacific and keeping them close to the US for AUKUS sake. "Keep China out of the Pacific".

For me even as a Nix fan I would be strongly opposed to the Nix or Auckland FC representing the OFC at the Club World Cup.

It would just totally be having your cake and eating it - play in an AFC league but represent OFC at the Club World Cup? 

Sure the windfall sounds great but that money is better off filtering down to the domestic game in NZ. 

Interesting times ahead.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/01/31/listen-new-zealand-to-be-restricted-to-two-clubs-in-new-ofc-pro-league-2/

Christchurch United have become the first New Zealand club to go public with their interest in joining Oceania’s new men’s professional league.

The men’s National League club have confirmed through their social media channels they have taken the first steps to seek a place in the competition due to launch in 2026.

The club have published a photograph of head coach Ryan Edwards with Central Coast Mariners captain and Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak, saying they had met to discuss opportunities to support Vanuatu’s football community and provide player pathways in Christchurch.

The new league could have 8-10 participating clubs, of which two are likely to come from New Zealand.

OFC Professional League manager Stuart Larman hosted a briefing of New Zealand clubs interested in the league in Auckland on Wednesday January 29, 2025.

In a December radio interview, Larman says briefings with interested clubs would spell out what was required for them to become professional clubs.

“We’ve made sure there’s going to be eight clubs — that seems to be very clear from the discussions that have been had — and to make sure the structure’s going to be correct.

“We believe there will be more applications, and might have up to 10 clubs in total.

“It might mean some countries have two clubs, and that will be the limit.”

Teams from Australia and Hawai’i could enter from the start or seek to join during any expansion of the league.

The league will have a launch event in October, with the competition set to get underway in January 2026.

Ryan Edwards (left) with Brian Kaltak. Photo credit: CUFC social media.

coochiee

Interesting times ahead.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/01/31/listen-new-zealand-to-be-restricted-to-two-clubs-in-new-ofc-pro-league-2/

Christchurch United have become the first New Zealand club to go public with their interest in joining Oceania’s new men’s professional league.

The men’s National League club have confirmed through their social media channels they have taken the first steps to seek a place in the competition due to launch in 2026.

The club have published a photograph of head coach Ryan Edwards with Central Coast Mariners captain and Vanuatu international Brian Kaltak, saying they had met to discuss opportunities to support Vanuatu’s football community and provide player pathways in Christchurch.

The new league could have 8-10 participating clubs, of which two are likely to come from New Zealand.

OFC Professional League manager Stuart Larman hosted a briefing of New Zealand clubs interested in the league in Auckland on Wednesday January 29, 2025.

In a December radio interview, Larman says briefings with interested clubs would spell out what was required for them to become professional clubs.

“We’ve made sure there’s going to be eight clubs — that seems to be very clear from the discussions that have been had — and to make sure the structure’s going to be correct.

“We believe there will be more applications, and might have up to 10 clubs in total.

“It might mean some countries have two clubs, and that will be the limit.”

Teams from Australia and Hawai’i could enter from the start or seek to join during any expansion of the league.

The league will have a launch event in October, with the competition set to get underway in January 2026.

Bring the Dragons back.

You would have to think that Wellington Olympic would be interested 

Doubt it, the nix have pretty comfortably cornered the market I'd imagine. Wellington just ain't big enough for 2 professional teams, there's no way they'd be granted entry

Noah4thenix

Doubt it, the nix have pretty comfortably cornered the market I'd imagine. Wellington just ain't big enough for 2 professional teams, there's no way they'd be granted entry

The idea that there is any sort of audience for this league is crazy, imho. It will be for tragics only. Everytime you see the word professional , substitute "how is this sustainable" And rethink the proposition.

Quite like the idea of a 0.5% levy on every salary in the Champions League / top 5 leagues going to FIFA to administer this league.

In fact that’d likely be waaay too much. But something similar would clearly get the job done.

martinb

Quite like the idea of a 0.5% levy on every salary in the Champions League / top 5 leagues going to FIFA to administer this league.

In fact that’d likely be waaay too much. But something similar would clearly get the job done.

These leagues think that the Club World Cup is a joke, and why would they ever agree to a demand from Fifa for this?

zonknz

martinb

Quite like the idea of a 0.5% levy on every salary in the Champions League / top 5 leagues going to FIFA to administer this league.

In fact that’d likely be waaay too much. But something similar would clearly get the job done.

These leagues think that the Club World Cup is a joke, and why would they ever agree to a demand from Fifa for this?

get shamed into it. A series of comparative photos. 

martinb

zonknz

martinb

Quite like the idea of a 0.5% levy on every salary in the Champions League / top 5 leagues going to FIFA to administer this league.

In fact that’d likely be waaay too much. But something similar would clearly get the job done.

These leagues think that the Club World Cup is a joke, and why would they ever agree to a demand from Fifa for this?

get shamed into it. A series of comparative photos. 

In some of the competitions, the owners a multi-billionaires typically. In others, there are not even performance related tv revenue distribution! In most of their respective domestic lower tiers there is no substantive solidarity payments.

Do you think shame is an effective tool? No one will see these photos in the top 5 countries, more so say that it is a (in no particular order) Spanish, English, German, Italian or French problem; consider that those leagues are run independently of their national association.

If OFC wants a league; great. Focus should be on sustainability, over professional. 

zonknz

martinb

zonknz

martinb

Quite like the idea of a 0.5% levy on every salary in the Champions League / top 5 leagues going to FIFA to administer this league.

In fact that’d likely be waaay too much. But something similar would clearly get the job done.

These leagues think that the Club World Cup is a joke, and why would they ever agree to a demand from Fifa for this?

get shamed into it. A series of comparative photos. 

In some of the competitions, the owners a multi-billionaires typically. In others, there are not even performance related tv revenue distribution! In most of their respective domestic lower tiers there is no substantive solidarity payments.

Do you think shame is an effective tool? No one will see these photos in the top 5 countries, more so say that it is a (in no particular order) Spanish, English, German, Italian or French problem; consider that those leagues are run independently of their national association.

If OFC wants a league; great. Focus should be on sustainability, over professional. 

I think part of it is as Coochie alluded to that their geo-political importance exceeds their GDP. 

I’d like to think that FIFA could prop up their poorest with a minuscule fraction of their richest.

An effective PR campaign pointing out the heroism implicit in a small sacrifice to make a truly global game and bring a professional league to the only confederation without it might make it difficult to brazen out at least. 

The players and fans and voters particularly. 

Pictures of those refusing 0.5% in private jets, expensive cars, etc might not go well against stories of no football grounds after storms or whatever. 

I can’t see it happening, but I wouldn’t mind if it did!

And sustainably? 😄😭🤣
How? Selling nuclear trial spots?

coochiee

Ryan Edwards (left) with Brian Kaltak. Photo credit: CUFC social media.

Gonna go out on a limb here and say that the person on the left is not Ryan Edwards...

FIFA has $4Billion in cash reserves and a juicy bloated cash cow 48 team WC next year

This new league may never really have to be financially “sustainable”. Just Chuck it as a Development expense in FIFA’s P&L