OFC Professional League

At least ACFC can go out with a bang this year in the US before it goes back to it's real name, Central United.

If ACFC had managed to enter the A League, I don't think it's product would have come near that being offered by AFC. I can't help but feel it would have been a Kingz MK.3.

 I really hope this league works ay. I would love an away day trip to any of the islands. Plus more football in our region, who doesn't love that!?!

https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Tahiti-United-en-route-pour-l-OFC-Pro-League_a229383.html

Tahitian bid is indeed led by AS Venus, but will be supported by the federation and known as Tahiti United.

Some of these Island teams, are going to be de facto National teams. Nothing wrong with that, if it helps ensure the standard is a high as it can be.

Will get a bit boring if the Aus & NZ clubs are totally dominant.

coochiee

Some of these Island teams, are going to be de facto National teams. Nothing wrong with that, if it helps ensure the standard is a high as it can be.

Will get a bit boring if the Aus & NZ clubs are totally dominant.

This can only be a positive, but I do hope there is a role for foreign players too. 

We've seen in the A-League how foreign players from Japan, England, Spain, etc. can impart knowledge on their teammates and improve teams beyond their own personal performance. Now imagine that with some of these island teams - surely there would be some decent domestic footballers in Aus and NZ that would fancy playing pro footy and living in the islands?

Another thought regarding this - if we get two pro clubs out of this (and it's not reserve teams of AFC/Phoenix), we will have 4 pro teams in NZ. Why not set up an NZ Professional Cup at some point in the year that suits for both comps?

LT01

Another thought regarding this - if we get two pro clubs out of this (and it's not reserve teams of AFC/Phoenix), we will have 4 pro teams in NZ. Why not set up an NZ Professional Cup at some point in the year that suits for both comps?

Good idea. Use it as a pre season comp, in the few weeks just before the ALM kicks off in late October. After any Aussie pre season tour and/or Australia Cup games for the 2 ALM clubs.

Might have to wait until 2026 though. The 2 NZ clubs in the OFC pro league may not be that well organised by lated Sept/early October this year, ie still signing their first players etc. That league won't kick off until Jan 2026.

Caveat is I wouldn't be at all surprised if yes Auckland FC reserves do get a spot in the OFC League.

I really hope that if the Nix/Akl get entries to OFC, they lose the guaranteed places in the National League Championship phase.

zonknz

I really hope that if the Nix/Akl get entries to OFC, they lose the guaranteed places in the National League Championship phase.

Firmly agree with this tbh. 

As much as I love the Nix, you need to earn the right to play at the top table in the National League. 

2022 & 2023 - No problem because they finished in the top four. 2024 should have been Miramar though.

There is also great merit/experience/opportunity for the young lads coming through to earn the right to qualify the proper way. Very rarely does anything get handed to you for free in the footballing kingdom.

Also, even if the Nix/Akl get into this OFC League, they'll still be playing upwards of 30-40 games a season, even without a guaranteed NL spot. Honestly, that feels about right as well.

The other side of the coin is that the best young players in the country miss out on 3 months of football if they don't finish in a qualification spot at a pivotal time in their development. (Granted, this is assuming the best young players end up in the A-League academies)

Also, if they didn't qualify, the only overlap between first team and reserves would be March-May. So WPX would see very little benefit from having a Reserves team. (i.e. no building match fitness/return from injury/squad depth)

Keeping in mind that the Reserves team is mostly restricted to U21 players, it makes the task to qualify even more challenging, any other team just needs to reach the 10% playing minutes threshold while the Reserves have 97%+ U20 minutes.

Not opposed to them having to qualify on merit if they were to get extra games from elsewhere e.g. OFC Pro League.  

YoungHeartHM

zonknz

I really hope that if the Nix/Akl get entries to OFC, they lose the guaranteed places in the National League Championship phase.

Firmly agree with this tbh. 

As much as I love the Nix, you need to earn the right to play at the top table in the National League. 

2022 & 2023 - No problem because they finished in the top four. 2024 should have been Miramar though.

There is also great merit/experience/opportunity for the young lads coming through to earn the right to qualify the proper way. Very rarely does anything get handed to you for free in the footballing kingdom.

Also, even if the Nix/Akl get into this OFC League, they'll still be playing upwards of 30-40 games a season, even without a guaranteed NL spot. Honestly, that feels about right as well.

The new OFC pro league is to be a January-May/June comp.

So if the Auckland and Nix Reserves were in that comp, would be a roughly 5 month playing overlap with the ALM. Plus you'd imagine the OFC pro league  teams will be playing friendlies through Nov-December in preparation.

But I don't really see the Weenix side being accepted into the OFC league. 2 pro teams in Welly doesn't make alot of sense. Leaving NZ's 2nd biggest city Christchurch out in the cold, plus the South Island as a whole.

2 pro teams in Auckland? See that as a much stronger possibility.

Depends if the national spread of teams even comes into consideration for OFC. I would have thought that's a NZF issue, while OFC want to get the best teams possible. 

I know geography won’t come in to it but I’d love to see a combined Napier and Gisborne (NI) and Christchurch (SI) as the two cities/areas represented.

I can still remember seeing Gisbourne City and Napier City Rovers carving up as a young child while my father, a NZFA FIFA ref, control their games against Hamilton and Waikato FCs.

It seems Real Kakamora's claim they submitted an EOI for the Pro League may not be legitimate. They are known for joking around on their instagram page.

Just seen this - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Ew2rRke5CwKsfPN5f5ykecBhGBNwht4NUnDw9PKJerRJpZ3Lsmegwf5VWYtC8CXLl&id=100077471342433

THE Solomon Kings Football Club (FC) is the sole applicant from the Solomon Islands for the highly anticipated Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Professional League, which is set to kick off in January 2026.

Representing the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF), the Solomon Kings FC aims to assemble a team comprised of the best players from the current Super League season, alongside top overseas-based talent. The club is determined to make a significant impact in the inaugural league.

This . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXOBPS7Lb_U

Yes, Ok I am back. And "I told you so" about this being a way forward to lift the OFC football standards by introducing a professional league not on a domestic scale but a confederation scale because of the population spread among the islands and the need for higher competition in the regions rather than just in a region where it is limited by population numbers and location. Whether people agree or not about the scheme, it was always going to be happening, it was the matter of when. I guess everyone has to see Oceania as a "large continent" full of water deserts in which there is no typical land buses between population venues but travel by airplanes/airbuses instead. With regional development among other things and funding from FIFA (the great cash cow of football), it was always going to happen. Especially when you see their values and personal moral imperative to have football anywhere and everywhere as the number one focus of everyone, it is not hard to see them going to the wastelands (or is it wasteseas? wastewaters? the World's backwaters?) of Oceania to make a stamp over Rugby and so make the Oceania feel at home with professional football on a regular home and away basis.

So, I say, suck it up and observe the struggles at the beginning and eventually enjoy the rough and smooth journey of the OFC professional league game in full flight. 

[Ok, that was one 30-year-old Monkey off my back for once, glad that people are coming around to see that possibility happening . . . now NZ having a second A-league team with Auckland (done), still aiming for three NZ A-League teams with a Christchurch team being the third (in the pipelines?), and a fully professional "provincial representative" league in NZ (how bloody hard is that?) . . . yes, I dream a dream for NZ football.]

Stay cool.
;-) 

theprof

So, for the first three years the comp is all sweet, after that it's likely to fold as FIFA pull back the funding and the realisation that noone is travelling to a HUB for 10 days to watch Chch United or Auckland City, or Wellington Olympic play will effectively end the comp.

There is just no way away fans are travelling to watch this - which is gonna kill the viability.

I heard its only 2 years funding, not 3.

I guess everyone has to see Oceania as a "large continent" full of water deserts in which there is no typical land buses between population venues but travel by airplanes/airbuses instead.

That's a nice way of putting it: the distance between New Caledonia and Tahiti (which I think are the geographical extremes of the OFC) is about 4700km, which seems a long way until you remember it's only 1.5 times Sydney-Perth (around 3200km) and A-League teams do that all the time.

Of course finding direct flights is way more of a challenge, so the actual flying times and costs are still pretty punishing.

Direct copy of NZKnowledge's post in Southern League thread


Christchurch United trying to be one of the founding clubs for the OFC Pro League:

How you can help us secure our spot:

Crowd Building – Show your support by coming to first-team matches this season! The bigger the crowds, the stronger our case. We’re working hard to grow attendance and demonstrate that Christchurch is ready for pro football.

Commercial Partnerships – This is crucial. OFC have made clear that we need strong financial backing from businesses in Christchurch and across New Zealand. If you own a business, hold a management role, or know someone in a position of influence, please reach out to Chris at commerical@cufc.co.nz—we’d love to meet and discuss opportunities. There are plenty of packages the club have on offer - big or small. Now is the time to come onboard with all the buzz that will be created around this league. 

Social Media Presence – Engage, comment, and share! Whether it’s on our posts or general media coverage, your support makes a difference. Every comment, share, and like helps us build momentum and make noise!

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/560686/football-the-one-trophy-auckland-fc-have-no-chance-of-winning

A change of tune on the involvement of the Wellington Phoenix & Auckland FC in the OFC Professional League?

I for one would be happy with this to be honest.

Nothing official mind you, but good news for Christchurch United and likely another Auckland side to step up in to the void.

The key comment in the article being right at the end.

I'd still wouldn't be shocked if the Black Knights did manage to get their Reserve team accepted. They have the financial resources to go on a OFC charm mission, promising this and that. Maybe they could build OFC beautiful new offices and training facilities at their proposed Western Springs Stadium.

I think with OFC being headquartered in Auckland, and the 09 being such a airline hub for the Pacific, an Auckland team of some sort is a given.


That could change with the launch of the OFC Pro League. But after early interest in including Auckland and the Phoenix, the federation now appears to have cooled on the idea - particularly if it involved reserve teams, or as OFC secretary-general Franck Castillo labelled them in February, "B-teams."

I think the Pro League will need the stability that the 2 existing professional sides will provide, just from a risk management standpoint.

The fewer clubs new to the pro environment the lower the risk of some collapsing, especially with the history of corruption in OFC. With any luck some close FIFA scrutiny on the league will help, but I'm nervous about the long term of the league and AFC and the Nix being involved mitigates that somewhat. I would like to see South Island representation though.

I think Christchurch United should be fairly stable from what I've read about them, and Slava Meyn.

Meyn is maybe the wealthiest proper football nut in NZ?  No shade on Rob Morrison, or Anna Mowbray, but not sure either is a hardcore football fan like Meyn appears to be.

More importantly ChCh United have some high class existing training facilities and the foremost Academy in the South Island. They should also attract reasonable crowds to their home games, as there is no other pro football going on in the Mainland. Are many going to turn up to watch the Weenix play, Hekari United?

A bit moot, given in it's first season the League will be played in hubs. But I imgine this is part of OFC's concern about having ALM reserve teams in the new league. Threadbare crowds in either Auckland or Welly, not a good look. To be fair there seems a small group of hardcore Port fans going to watch Auckland II in the Northern League - even letting off flares!! Some of that hardcore will likely migrate to watching the ALW team play, if they do in fact launch a team next season

13 bidders left. 5 to miss out from here to get the final 8 teams to make up the league.

No clubs from New Caledonia which is a shame, given how well they played against the AWs back in March. I presume the civil unrest there a big factor.

So who are the 4 NZ clubs who are still in the running?
ChCh United?
Nix (reserves)?
Auckland FC (reserves)?
some combined Auckland club bid? - that Auckland City's Ivan Vuksich has talked about

Think Nelson Suburbs said they were also applying.

So 2 of the remaining 4 NZ bids will miss out.
Same 1 of the 2 remaining Australian bids
And maybe PNG & Fiji (each with 2 bids remaining), only get 1 bid successful.

That gives you 8 clubs.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/13-clubs-now-in-contention-to-be-part-of-the-inaugural-ofc-professional-league/

From the 24 clubs who expressed interest in being part of the OFC Professional League due to start in January 2026, OFC can confirm that 13 will continue to the Club Licensing phase.

There are 11 clubs from six OFC Member Associations including four from New Zealand, two from Fiji, two from Papua New Guinea, one each from Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with the other two clubs from Australia.

The 13 clubs will be reduced to eight for the 2026 competition. There will be a maximum of two entries from a single OFC Member Association and one from Australia.

I am sure this has been canvassed elsewhere but without looking back can anyone advise.

1: Why an Ausi team is in this comp and what advantage is it to them?

2: I am assuming that if that team took out the comp, they wouldn’t be able to play in the club world championship?

1. Geo political play for sure ie an attempt to counter China's growing influence in the Pacific region. Plenty of sports diplomacy stuff going on at the moment
https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/australian-government-and-football-australia-strengthen-support-pacific-football

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/nrl-team-confirmed-for-png-in-600m-deal-that-comes-with-a-catch-20241212-p5kxs2

Also makes a bit of sense with Brisbane/Sydney like Auckland being travel hubs for the Pacific, ie a lack of direct flights between many of the Island countries. 

And lastly with an Aus team in the league, a greater chance of some large commercial Aus headquartered sponsors getting involved, to help finance a league spread over mostly a group of pretty poor 3rd World nations.


2. Not sure an announcement has been made about that yet. But Aussie being in a different Confed (AFC), you'd think it would yes be the same in that Nix and Auckland can't play in the various AFC Champions League comps

coochiee

13 bidders left. 5 to miss out from here to get the final 8 teams to make up the league.

No clubs from New Caledonia which is a shame, given how well they played against the AWs back in March. I presume the civil unrest there a big factor.

So who are the 4 NZ clubs who are still in the running?
ChCh United?
Nix (reserves)?
Auckland FC (reserves)?
some combined Auckland club bid? - that Auckland City's Ivan Vuksich has talked about

Think Nelson Suburbs said they were also applying.

So 2 of the remaining 4 NZ bids will miss out.
Same 1 of the 2 remaining Australian bids
And maybe PNG & Fiji (each with 2 bids remaining), only get 1 bid successful.

That gives you 8 clubs.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/13-clubs-now-in-contention-to-be-part-of-the-inaugural-ofc-professional-league/

From the 24 clubs who expressed interest in being part of the OFC Professional League due to start in January 2026, OFC can confirm that 13 will continue to the Club Licensing phase.

There are 11 clubs from six OFC Member Associations including four from New Zealand, two from Fiji, two from Papua New Guinea, one each from Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with the other two clubs from Australia.

The 13 clubs will be reduced to eight for the 2026 competition. There will be a maximum of two entries from a single OFC Member Association and one from Australia.

Just going off the nugget found in the RNZ piece about Auckland FC... it couldn't be Knights reserves and Nix reserves that have been eliminated? OFC satisfied with the rest of the NZ bids and don't see the point in having B teams?

You would expect New Zealand to have 2 teams in the inaugural edition at this stage.

4 bids in the final 13, Aus will only get 1 place, and even if all six OFC members incl us get a team that leaves a spare place. Surely our second option gets in over Fiji/PNG second option

A wait now until September.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/05/13/four-new-zealand-clubs-in-contention-for-new-ofc-professional-league/

In their update, OFC have not named any of the 13 clubs.

New Zealand clubs that previously declared their interest in joining the league included Auckland FC, Wellington Phoenix, Nelson Suburbs and Christchurch United.

The only Australian clubs to go public with their interest were South Melbourne and Sunshine Coast Fire.

The 13 clubs will be reduced to eight for the competition set to launch in 2026.

No more than two entries will be allowed from a single OFC member association and Australia will be allowed a maximum of one club.

The competition will feature eight teams and run from early January until the end of May, with each club playing a minimum of 17 matches.

“Any club that wants to participate in the OFC Professional League 2026 must meet the requirements to receive an OFC Professional League club licence”, Stuart Larman, OFC Professional League project manager, said.

“We expect the quality of submissions to continue at the same level as we have seen in the first phase of the club application process.

“If that happens, we will have 13 clubs licensed and eight slots available in the OFC Professional League 2026. In countries where more than one club has attained a license, we have a defined methodology to distinguish between the clubs based on their club licensing submissions.”

In August, the OFC club licensing committee will pass on its recommendations to the OFC executive committee, with confirmation on the eight selected clubs happening in September.

Gill said on the pod that Nix are definitely still keen to be in the OFC Pro League and to his knowledge the Nix had not been told they had been left out of the 13 clubs still in the running. A lot of uncertainty remains about the rules and regs about players but he would anticipate that a Nix Pro League side would replace the reserve team and would need to be a fair bit more competitive than the current reserve side

My guess would be Nix, Auckland FC, this auckland conglomeration, and Christchurch.

While it will not happen as they will want 2 NZ teams, my preference is we have one and that is the team from Christchurch.

Try and make that as professional as possible with all the resources left over not hoovered up by the Nix or AFC.

With the ultimate goal of one day be it in 5 or 10 years making the A league.

A strong well financed team representing the mainland and likely NZ, in the club world championship, I believe would be best for NZ football.

Also if you allow AFC one of the licenses, with Christchurch the other, then the power imbalance between the Nix and AFC would be to large.

Totally agree, if one Aleague team gets access to this then both must. So it's kind of an all or nothing scenario. I both AFC and Nix are allowed then the question is will it be their top teams or a some version of a reserve team with allowances made for 1st teamers to be played.

Has there been any discussion of what the rules around non-OFC players might be?

Nelfoos

Has there been any discussion of what the rules around non-OFC players might be?

Probably still a bit early for that. Something to clarify in the next few months before the 8 teams are named in September.

Huge undertaking getting this league organised, clubs based in likely 7 different countries, and all the logistical challenges involved to make sure it launches from complete scratch as a success. The 5 nations outside NZ & Aussie pretty poor.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-31st-ordinary-congress-looks-ahead-to-ofc-professional-league/

Nelfoos

Has there been any discussion of what the rules around non-OFC players might be?

Teams will be allowed six players from outside their country – but only three from outside OFC

What's the possibility that if either Nix or AFC get in that OFC tells them to essentially create another first team instead of using their reserves? Is that something that can be enforced? Because that could seriously impact if either want to keep pursuing the league

andrewvoerman

Nelfoos

Has there been any discussion of what the rules around non-OFC players might be?

Teams will be allowed six players from outside their country – but only three from outside OFC

Assume this means that Aussies will count as non-OFC players?

Noah4thenix

What's the possibility that if either Nix or AFC get in that OFC tells them to essentially create another first team instead of using their reserves? Is that something that can be enforced? Because that could seriously impact if either want to keep pursuing the league

Gill said somehting along the lines that they expect the requirements with this league will mean creating a new "reserve" team - so not all U21 players but a mix of those close to first team spots and academy players.

Watching Chch United vs Cashmere tech on Youtube and Chch United have 400+ live viewers, pretty good for an amateur club in NZ I'd imagine. Good signs if they do go pro that they could gain a decent following

Noah4thenix

Watching Chch United vs Cashmere tech on Youtube and Chch United have 400+ live viewers, pretty good for an amateur club in NZ I'd imagine. Good signs if they do go pro that they could gain a decent following

sports betting viewers?