Hekari get a nod for OFC Pro-League in 2026

In a historic announcement, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Executive Committee revealed the eight participating clubs for the inaugural Professional League scheduled to kick off on January 10th, 2026.

Following a thorough club licensing process, the preferred eight clubs for the inaugural OFC Professional League have been confirmed.

Based on the recommendations of the Independent Club Licensing Committee, the OFC Executive Committee approved the clubs, which are still subject to the final stages of the licensing and compliance process before full confirmation.

Out of the seven successful bidders, Hekari PNG FC and Lae City FC also bid to secure a spot in the top-flight competition. However, Hekari’s bid was approved, signaling the birth of PNG’s participation in the elite football league.  

The powerhouse club in PNG (Hekari) will represent the country to compete against seven other countries in the first-ever OFC Pro-League competition, which aims to elevate the standard of football in the region, serving as Oceania’s qualifier for the FIFA Club World Cup 2029. 

After months and years of rigorous and tireless planning, the MRDC-sponsored franchise got the green light to prove their worth in a highly-competitive football arena and represent PNG with pride next year.

Bula Boys FC (Fiji), Hekari United FC (Papua New Guinea), Solomon Kings FC (Solomon Islands), Tahiti United FC (Tahiti) and Vanuatu FC (Vanuatu) are all confirmed as preferred candidates for the Pro-League. 

Joining the Pacific Islands clubs are New Zealand's Auckland FC and Christchurch United FC, with South Melbourne FC representing Australia as the sole team from outside the OFC region.

The first OFC Professional League season will run from January through to May 2026, with each club playing a minimum of 17 matches.

The competition will feature five circuit series rounds, hosted across the Pacific. After the circuit series phase, teams will be split into two playoff groups: Leaders and Challengers.

The Leaders Playoff Group will see the top four teams battle for three of the four semi-final spots, whilst the Challengers Playoff Group will involve the remaining teams, with the top side earning a playoff match against the fourth-placed team from the Leaders Group to determine the remaining semi-final berth.

Interestingly, the semi-finals and the final will be single-leg knockout matches.

Meanwhile, the OFC Professional League will be officially launched at an event held in Auckland, New Zealand, on Wednesday, October 29th.