Oceania Professional Football League

[Zidane98]

The teams for the inaugural OFC Professional League have been confirmed:






Season starting January 2026. Min of 17 rounds with some being played in the one location (R1 in NZ).


South Melbourne are competing - not sure how that aligns with their Aus Championship commitments.



I don't see how this will survive. The travel costs alone will be enormous. Auckland FC are sending their youth team. January - May is also smack bang in summer meaning hot, humid weather, thunderstorms, cyclones. Not exactly ideal for a professional football competition.


This seems like a final hurrah for Oceania as a confederation. Happy to be proven wrong but I just don't see how this is a viable competition.

 

[Colonial]

Yeah this won’t last. What will crash quicker this or the “Championship”?

 

[acm21]

The teams for the inaugural OFC Professional League have been confirmed:






Season starting January 2026. Min of 17 rounds with some being played in the one location (R1 in NZ).


South Melbourne are competing - not sure how that aligns with their Aus Championship commitments.



I don't see how this will survive. The travel costs alone will be enormous. Auckland FC are sending their youth team. January - May is also smack bang in summer meaning hot, humid weather, thunderstorms, cyclones. Not exactly ideal for a professional football competition.


This seems like a final hurrah for Oceania as a confederation. Happy to be proven wrong but I just don't see how this is a viable competition.

I believe its being played in Hubs which will help with the costs and have some funding from Fifa.
South will effectively have 4 competitions (including the aus/dockerty cup) to deal with, that will be the most difficult situation of any team.

Imo the Championship will succeed, just what it looks like as a competition will be the most interesting. will it be a better structured npl Championship (not necessarily with the foundation clubs) or will it be a proper second division

 

[Zidane98]

Yeah this won’t last. What will crash quicker this or the “Championship”?

This. Championship will last and thrive eventually as a proper second tier comp.

 

[Zidane98]

Interesting they didnt include the 'Nix. South Island Utd (Christchurch) getting the second NZ place.

 

[Zidane98]

Imagine home games in PNG Jan/Feb.

Welcome to 30 degrees / 90% humidity.

 

[ioppolo]

Fun idea, bit unfortunately that's all it could really be. I truly hope it pans out but yeah, it won't last more than a second season.