OFC Professional League
| Founded | 2019 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2026 |
| Country | Oceania |
| Confederation | OFC |
| International cup(s) | OFC Champions League |
The OFC Professional League is a planned association football league slated to begin play in 2026, under the auspices of the Oceania Football Confederation. It will consist of clubs from different nations throughout the region.
History
[edit]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 originally expected to begin play in 2021.[2] However, progress was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
About the project, OFC President Lambert Maltock said the league would play a crucial role in elevating the sport throughout Oceania and that, "As leaders of Oceania football, we are responsible for the growth of football, and we need to move forward to make this happen."[3]
In October 2022 FIFA president Gianni Infantino pledged the organization's full support of the project at the OFC's 28th Ordinary Congress in Auckland, New Zealand. At the event, which doubled as an inauguration ceremony for the new OFC Home of Football headquarters, Infantino said, "FIFA wholeheartedly supports the efforts to create an Oceania professional league, because we need to professionalize the game everywhere across all the islands...There are challenges across all of the islands, and we need to turn these challenges into advantages, in order to create professional football at the top level. We will work for that, and we expect that together with FIFA, all confederations and member associations will provide their support."[4]
On 19 November 2022 in Doha, Qatar, the OFC Executive Committee voted to move forward with the league with a target start date of 2025.[5] Following the announcement, an OFC spokesperson stated that the league was in the "very early stage of planning" and clarified that the new league would not affect the current format of the OFC Champions League.[6]
In February 2023 OFC President Maltock presented an update on the proposed league and emphasized its importance to the growth of the sport in the region. Again, FIFA President Infantino stated, "...I once again pledge FIFA’s full support to help our friends and colleagues in Oceania to make this proposal become a reality."[7]
On 23 January 2024, OFC announced that a VAR system was planned to be implemented for the first edition of the competition in 2025.[8] In July of that year, the OFC announced a new anticipated inaugural season of 2026 after FIFA provided the confederation with funding to recruit a league manager. The goal was to provide training to interested clubs during the remainder of 2024 and 2025 so they could successfully transition to fully professional status. At that time, it was not yet decided if the clubs would be existing teams, new clubs that would represent entire member associations, or both.[9]
Format
[edit]Originally Papua New Guinea Football Association president John Kapi Natto stated that the league would play a home-and-away, round-robin schedule against clubs from across the confederation's members.[2]
Players
[edit]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] An early roster concept includes composite rosters similar to Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika. The squads would be built upon Oceanian players, with marquee players from other regions featuring.[1]
See also
[edit]- OFC Champions League
- African Football League
- European Super League, a proposed tournament with similar format for clubs from Europe
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Ewart, Richard (December 2022). "OFC Pro League could feature composite Pacific island teams and marquee players from overseas". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ a b c "OFC plans to deliver professional league in 2021". The National. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "Sports news in brief for November 25". Radio New Zealand. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "OFC Home of Football opens its doors". FIFA. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "OFC Professional League Enters Next Stage". Papua New Guinea Post Courier. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ Bjerkevoll, Ole (8 December 2022). "New Pro League will not replace OCL". Football in Oceania. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "FIFA and OFC presidents meet in Paris". FIFA. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "VAR a game changer for OFC". Oceania Football. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Lammers, Coen. "OFC President Sees Life's Work Come to Fruition at OFC Men's Nations Cup". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 3 July 2024.