Deadline nears for OFC Pro League clubs to complete first season signings
- Friends of Football
- Dec 24, 2025
- 3 min read
The eight founding clubs in the new OFC Pro League are nearing the deadline to complete signings for their squads to play in the opening round of matches in mid-January.
The clubs must submit their first team squad lists for the opening round to OFC by 5pm (NZT) on Tuesday December 23, 2025, providing players have been registered no later than Monday December 22, 2025.
Team lists need to have at least 20 players, including three goalkeepers, and a maximum of 23 players.
The league gets underway on Saturday January 17, 2026.
Participating clubs have been signing players in readiness for the opening round of 12 games to be played at Eden Park and Albany’s North Harbour Stadium.
To play in the competition after completion of Round 1, players must be signed by clubs no later than January 21, 2026 (NZT).
OFC Pro League rules say players can only turn out for one club in the competition during the season.
Eligibility of players
Clubs can sign up to three non-citizen foreign players — those who do not hold the nationality of the country where the club is based and affiliated to their national body.
They can also sign three players who are non-citizen foreign players, providing they hold the nationality of other OFC member associations.
Clubs can maintain an injury reserve list of up to 30 players who must be 21 or younger by December 31, 2025. All injury reserve players must be citizens of the country in which their club is based.
Players can only be promoted from the reserve list to the first team squad to replace a player who has suffered a season-ending injury, and has a report from an independent doctor.
Goalkeepers can be promoted from the reserve list on a temporary basis, if the club has only one fit senior goalkeeper.
From the start of the fifth round of the league, players can not be replaced by those on the reserves list, except for goalkeepers.
Rules specific to Auckland FC
As Auckland FC also compete in the men’s A-League, OFC Pro League rules say the club can field three players over 23 but must fill the rest of their matchday squad with players under 23 (on or after June 1, 2026).
Main photo: The OFC Pro League will have between 160 and 184 registered players for its launch in mid-January. Photo credit: OFC Media.
Competition regulations
What’s at stake
The winners of the OFC Pro League qualify to represent Oceania at the annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The club with the best record in the competition will qualify to represent Oceania at the four-yearly FIFA Club World Cup.
South Melbourne are excluded from the pathway to the FIFA events as they are affiliated to Football Australia who are members of the Asian Football Confederation. This is similar to how Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix are unable to qualify for FIFA events through the A-League.
Previously, the qualifying pathway for Oceania clubs to the FIFA events was through the OFC Men’s Champions League.
Fixtures
Round 1: New Zealand
Games to be played on Saturday January 17, 2026
Vanuatu United v BulaEden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, 3pm
Auckland FC v South Island UnitedEden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, 7pm
Games to be played on Sunday January 18, 2026
Tahiti United v South MelbourneEden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, 1pm
PNG Hekari v Solomon KingsEden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, 5pm
Games to be played on Tuesday January 20, 2026
Bula v South Island UnitedNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 3pm
Auckland FC v Vanuatu UnitedNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 7pm
Games to be played on Wednesday January 21, 2026
Tahiti United v PNG HekariNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 3pm
South Melbourne v Solomon KingsNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 7pm
Games to be played on Friday January 23, 2026
South Island United v Vanuatu UnitedNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 3pm
Auckland FC v BulaNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 7pm
Games to be played on Saturday January 24, 2026
Solomon Kings v Tahiti UnitedNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 2.30pm
PNG Hekari v South MelbourneNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, 6.30pm
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