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OFC Professional League

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The OFC Professional League is a planned association football league set to debut in January 2026, under the auspices of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). It will consist of eight premier clubs from across the Pacific, establishing a professional framework for football development in the region.

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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]

On 19 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]

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.[6] The OFC also opened expressions of interest for clubs across the region to participate in the inaugural season.[7] Additionally, Australian-based clubs were invited to participate.[8] By February 2025, initial interest had been received from clubs in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Australia, and New Zealand.[9]

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Format

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The OFC Professional League will feature eight teams from across the Pacific, [10] competing in a structured format that ensures high-intensity competition throughout the season. The league will operate on the following timeline:

  • End of June 2025 – Conclusion of the club application process.
  • August 2025 – OFC Licensing Committee submits recommendations to the OFC Executive Committee.
  • September 2025 – Final approval and issuance of licenses to the eight selected clubs.

The competition will commence in January 2026, running through May 2026. 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:

  • Leaders Playoff Group – The top four teams will compete for semi-final berths.
  • Challengers Playoff Group – The bottom four teams will battle for redemption, with the top team earning a chance to face the fourth-placed team from the Leaders Playoff Group for a semi-final spot.

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.[7]

The league will also serve as Oceania's qualifying pathway for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.[7]

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Players

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] The competition structure is designed to keep every match meaningful and maintain competitive intensity throughout the season.[7]

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]

See also

References

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