Auckland FC and Christchurch United FC will join six other clubs in the first-ever professional football league for the Oceania region, starting on January 10, 2026.
Teams from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu, and South Melbourne in Australia have also been chosen to compete. The tournament will run until May 2026 and will act as the region’s pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029.
The clubs were picked from 24 applicants by the Independent Club Licensing Committee, though they must still complete final checks before being confirmed. OFC general secretary Franck Castillo called the league “a historic moment” that will give Pacific players and coaches a chance to compete at higher levels.
The league will be played in a circuit series format, with each club playing at least 17 matches. After the initial rounds, teams will be split into two groups: the Leaders Group and the Challengers Group. The top teams from these groups will move into semi-finals, which will be decided in single-match knockouts, leading up to the final.
However, not everyone is celebrating. The Wellington Phoenix, Oceania’s only professional club with both men’s and women’s pathways, were left out. Phoenix leaders expressed frustration, saying their facilities and academy programs make them the most established football club in the region. The club is considering a legal review of the decision.
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