OFC and Football Australia Sign MoU to Drive Pacific Football Growth Through 2029

OFC and Football Australia sign MoU to drive Pacific football growth through 2029 and back OFC’s professional league launch in 2026

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and Football Australia have formalized their cooperation with a new Memorandum of Understanding that runs through 2029. The agreement, signed today at the 2025 Australian Football Leadership Summit in Sydney by OFC President Lambert Maltock and Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac, cements decades of collaboration and establishes a clear framework for future development across the region.

OFC President Lambert Maltock described the MoU as an important step for Oceania football. He said that Australia’s deep roots in the region and the partnership with Football Australia will create new opportunities, resources, and expertise that will benefit players, coaches, referees, and communities throughout the Pacific. The MoU aligns with OFC’s strategic pillars of Development, Education, and High Performance and aims to strengthen ties between member associations and Football Australia, paving the way for success on and off the pitch.

Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac echoed the sentiment, noting that the agreement reinforces a long-standing partnership and stands as a cornerstone of regional cooperation that will benefit both organisations over the long term. The MoU highlights joint efforts in governance, administration, knowledge-sharing, and social responsibility, with a focus on strengthening football communities in both Oceania and Australia through reciprocal opportunities and expertise exchange.

A central element of the agreement is Football Australia’s formal support for establishing the OFC Professional League, slated to begin in January 2026. Football Australia will contribute its expertise in technical development, governance, regulatory frameworks, and competition management to help the league function as a professional pathway and a qualification route for international competitions, benefitting clubs and players across the region.

Context and outlook

The MoU comes as OFC continues to advance the region’s football agenda, building on the legacy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. It also complements ongoing efforts linked to OFC’s planned Professional League, a project that has generated broad regional engagement and excitement about elevating the standard of football in Oceania.

Background context from recent developments shows strong regional interest in the OFC Professional League. Reports indicate around 24 clubs from across New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu have expressed interest in joining the eight-team competition scheduled for January–May 2026, with licensing procedures determining the final lineup. The league is designed to align with Oceania’s recent World Cup qualification opportunities and to provide a robust professional pathway for players and coaches alike.

Why this matters

– Strengthened regional governance and administration: The MoU formalizes knowledge-sharing and best-practice exchange, raising administrative standards across the Pacific.
– Enhanced player and coach development: Joint efforts on pathways, coaching, and refereeing development aim to build a deeper talent pool and improve on-field performance.
– A clear professional pathway: The OFC Professional League, supported by Football Australia, offers a tangible route to international competition and further professional opportunities for Pacific clubs and players.
– Broad regional impact: By linking Oceania and Australia’s football ecosystems, the partnership supports social responsibility initiatives and community engagement, helping to grow the sport at all levels.

Summary

The partnership between the OFC and Football Australia through this MoU marks a significant step in unifying regional football efforts through 2029, with deliberate emphasis on governance, development, and a formal pathway to a professional league launching in 2026. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to elevating football across the Pacific, leveraging Australia’s experience to accelerate growth while expanding opportunities for players, coaches, and communities throughout Oceania.

Editor’s notes and context for readers

– The OFC Professional League is expected to be eight teams and run from January to May 2026, coinciding with Oceania’s World Cup ambitions and broader regional sport development goals.
– The licensing and selection process, governed by OFC rules, will determine the final eight clubs, with caps on representation from member associations to maintain competitive balance.
– This collaboration continues the region’s momentum following successful regional events and global tournaments, positioning Oceania to build stronger, more competitive football ecosystems for years to come.