The heartbeat of Pacific football pulsed through Auckland’s Eden Park last night as the Oceania football community gathered to celebrate the official launch of the OFC Pro League – a groundbreaking competition that ushers in a new professional era for the region.
Hosted by Goran Paladin, the launch event brought together players, coaches, and officials from across Oceania, marking the moment the region’s football turned professional.
Eight founding clubs from seven Pacific nations will contest the inaugural season when the league kicks off on January 17, 2026.
In attendance was South Melbourne FC, confirmed as Australia’s sole representative and the only club competing outside of the Oceania confederation. The club’s participation reaffirms its historic ties to the region, having previously been crowned Oceania Club of the Century by FIFA.
OFC President Lambert Maltock captured the spirit of the night, declaring: “What begins here tonight at Eden Park will change the landscape of football in Oceania, forever.”
Among the competing clubs are Tahiti United, built on the foundations of AS Venus; Solomon Kings FC, partnering with Australia’s Wynnum Wolves; PNG Hekari FC, reviving the legacy of Hekari United; and Vanuatu United FC and Bula FC of Fiji, both eager to showcase the region’s rising talent.
Early rivalries are already brewing, with fans anticipating the North vs South Aotearoa derby between Auckland FC and South Island United.
For South Melbourne FC, the occasion represented both a return and a renewal. General Manager Strati Xynas said the club was honoured to once again fly the Australian flag on the international stage.
“This is a proud and historic moment for our club and supporters. The Oceania Professional League provides a platform to showcase the professionalism and passion that has always defined us,” Xynas said.
Head Coach Sinisa Cohadzic added that the new league would deliver lasting benefits for football across the Pacific.
“This competition is about more than football — it’s about creating pathways for players, coaches and staff to operate in a professional environment. It’s an opportunity to test ourselves, to learn, and to grow as part of an exciting new era for the game across Oceania,” Cohadzic said.
Co-President Bill Papastergiadis OAM said South Melbourne’s involvement connects deeply with the club’s legacy and multicultural ethos.
“Representing Australia and bringing together the very best of football from across the Oceania region is something we are immensely proud of. This competition connects deeply with our history and our identity. We are excited to contribute to a new professional landscape that will benefit clubs, players and administrators throughout the region,” Papastergiadis said.
Co-President Andrew Mesourouni echoed the excitement: “We deserve to be on the international stage and we are deeply excited by this new competition. Professionalism is at the core of our values and the club is now ready to compete at the highest levels.”
As part of the 2026 calendar, South Melbourne FC will host a league hub in Melbourne, welcoming competing clubs for a cultural festival of football that will celebrate Oceania’s diversity both on and off the pitch.
The OFC Pro League promises to create professional pathways for players, administrators, and coaches across the Pacific, building bridges between nations with deep cultural and sporting ties. With kickoff just over 11 weeks away, the countdown to a new chapter in Oceania’s football story has officially begun.
