Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
February 11 – The Oceania Soccer Confederation (OFC) has launched the membership utility course of for the area’s new Skilled League, which can debut in 2026 with the hope of professionalising the membership sport throughout the Pacific.
Golf equipment can have till the top of June to specific curiosity in taking part within the new league, and in September the OFC will difficulty licenses to the chosen eight golf equipment.
“The launch of the OFC Skilled League is a transformative second for soccer in Oceania. It is not going to solely elevate the usual of the sport but in addition present a aggressive platform for our golf equipment and gamers to thrive on the worldwide stage,” mentioned OFC Normal Secretary Franck Castillo in an announcement.
The format will see the members compete in 5 ‘circuit sequence’ rounds in a double round-robin format, with every membership assured a minimal of 17 matches a season.
The competitors will then be break up into two playoff leagues, a ‘chief standings’ and ‘challenger standings’, earlier than the semi-finals and closing resolve the last word champion.
The league will function a pathway to the 2029 Membership World Cup.
“This league is designed to be a catalyst for soccer growth throughout Oceania,” Skilled League supervisor Stuart Larman mentioned.
“The format ensures that the competitors stays thrilling proper till the very finish, with the fourth-placed crew [last in the leader standings] having the chance to play off in opposition to the fifth-place crew [first in the challenger standings] for a spot within the semi-finals.
“This construction retains each match significant and maintains aggressive depth all through the season.”
The league has been a very long time within the making. A 2019 activity pressure first explored the thought earlier than the OFC Govt Committee greenlighted the competitors in 2022.
It’s understood that FIFA will bankroll a lot of the Skilled League.
Contact the author of this story Samindra Kunti at moc.o1739268479ohay@1739268479itnuk1739268479ardni1739268479mas1739268479
