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New OFC Professional League kicks off in Auckland
A groundbreaking football competition spanning seven nations debuts this weekend, marking Oceania's first professional league since Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006. The OFC Professional League features eight clubs, including two from New Zealand and one each from Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.
The inaugural match takes place at Auckland's Eden Park on January 17, with subsequent rounds hosted across the region before a May playoff determines the champion. Winners will secure a berth in FIFA's Intercontinental Cup and the expanded Club World Cup, offering a rare opportunity for Oceania's top teams to compete against global powerhouses.
Financial backing and regional ambitions
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is covering travel, accommodation, and logistics to ensure clubs can focus on development. League head Stuart Larman anticipates strong attendance, projecting crowds of over 10,000 in Fiji and the Solomon Islands. He emphasized the importance of community ties for financial sustainability, noting that clubs with robust local support are more likely to attract commercial partners and investment in youth programs.
"The best players in each country will now have 17 highly competitive matches guaranteed-an enormous jump in quality," Larman said. "People will be surprised at the standard."
Scouting and player pathways
The league aims to unlock previously untapped talent pools, providing players with professional pathways and high-level competition. Vanuatu international Jordy Tasip, representing newly formed Vanuatu United, highlighted the transformative potential for smaller nations. Participating clubs include Auckland FC, South Island United (New Zealand), South Melbourne (Australia), Bula FC (Fiji), PNG Hekari (Papua New Guinea), Solomon Kings, and Tahiti United.
European cross-border leagues gain traction
While Oceania pioneers its regional league, similar proposals are gaining momentum in Europe. Latvian football president Maksims Krivunecs is spearheading a 'Baltic League' involving Estonia and Lithuania, citing stagnant domestic growth. Latvia's Virsliga lacks a broadcasting deal, leaving clubs reliant on investor funding and player sales to survive.
Krivunecs described the current environment as unsustainable, with clubs vulnerable to economic shifts. "If an investor's business struggles, football support disappears first," he said. "We need heritage clubs with community roots to build a viable product."
Baltic League structure and goals
The proposed Baltic League would reduce domestic fixtures to single home-and-away matches, with the top four teams from each country advancing to a cross-border playoff. Points earned in domestic rounds would carry over, preserving UEFA competition berths. The format aims to create more competitive matches while ensuring every club has stakes until the season's end.
Krivunecs projects the league could generate €5 million annually, with UEFA likely to approve the plan if all three nations formally request it. While Latvian clubs and authorities back the initiative, Estonia and Lithuania remain hesitant. Krivunecs hopes to demonstrate feasibility within three years, potentially expanding to include Finland.
Historical precedents and future possibilities
Cross-border leagues are not new. Three Canadian teams compete in Major League Soccer, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously floated a merger with Mexico's Liga MX. In Europe, Welsh clubs have long participated in English leagues, while Belgium and the Netherlands explored a 'BeNeLiga' in 2019 to counter declining competitiveness.
Proposals for an 'Atlantic League'-including clubs from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Scotland-have resurfaced intermittently since 2000. Though interest has waned, some advocates suggest youth-level competitions could revive the concept. Larman, drawing on his global experience, believes Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales could benefit from a similar model, combining domestic seasons with a cross-border playoff to boost competitiveness and attendance.
"If the Baltics succeed, it could trigger broader discussions," Krivunecs said. "This is the best place for a pilot project."
