Auckland FC and Christchurch United FC will join six other clubs from across the Pacific in the inaugural OFC Professional League, the region’s first-ever professional football competition set to kick off on 10 January 2026.
They will compete alongside Bula Boys FC (Fiji), Hekari United FC (Papua New Guinea), Solomon Kings FC (Solomon Islands), Tahiti United FC (Tahiti), Vanuatu FC (Vanuatu), and South Melbourne FC, the sole Australian entrant.
Chosen from 24 applicants, the clubs will play in a circuit series format followed by playoffs, with the league also serving as Oceania’s pathway to the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
OFC general secretary Franck Castillo hailed the launch as “a historic moment for Oceania football,” marking a milestone in the region’s sporting development.
