February 11 – The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has launched the club application process for the region’s new Professional League, which will debut in 2026 with the hope of professionalising the club game across the Pacific.
Clubs will have until the end of June to express interest in participating in the new league, and in September the OFC will issue licenses to the selected eight clubs.
“The launch of the OFC Professional League is a transformative moment for football in Oceania. It will not only elevate the standard of the game but also provide a competitive platform for our clubs and players to thrive on the international stage,” said OFC General Secretary Franck Castillo in a statement.
The format will see the participants compete in five ‘circuit series’ rounds in a double round-robin format, with each club guaranteed a minimum of 17 matches a season.
The competition will then be split into two playoff leagues, a ‘leader standings’ and ‘challenger standings’, before the semi-finals and final decide the ultimate champion.
The league will serve as a pathway to the 2029 Club World Cup.
“This league is designed to be a catalyst for football development across Oceania,” Professional League manager Stuart Larman said.
“The format ensures that the competition remains exciting right until the very end, with the fourth-placed team [last in the leader standings] having the opportunity to play off against the fifth-place team [first in the challenger standings] for a spot in the semi-finals.
“This structure keeps every match meaningful and maintains competitive intensity throughout the season.”
The league has been a long time in the making. A 2019 task force first explored the idea before the OFC Executive Committee greenlighted the competition in 2022.
It’s understood that FIFA will bankroll much of the Professional League.
Contact the writer of this story Samindra Kunti at moc.l1739286650labto1739286650ofdlr1739286650owedi1739286650sni@i1739286650tnuk.1739286650ardni1739286650mas1739286650