Auckland, 30 October 2025 – South Melbourne FC proudly attended the official launch of the Oceania Professional League in Auckland on Wednesday, marking another defining moment in the club’s long and distinguished history.
The inaugural season of the competition will commence in January 2026, featuring eight founding clubs from seven nations. The league will adopt a circuit series format, with matches played across key Pacific venues before concluding with finals later in the year.
South Melbourne FC has been confirmed as Australia’s representative and the only club competing outside of the Oceania confederation, reaffirming its standing as one of the region’s most iconic and respected football institutions.
General Manager Strati Xynas said:
“This is a proud and historic moment for our club and supporters. To once again represent Australia on the international stage is an incredible honour. The Oceania Professional League provides a platform to showcase the professionalism and passion that has always defined us, while also building stronger relationships with our neighbours across the Pacific.”
Head Coach Sinisa Cohadzic added:
“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.”
Co-President Bill Papastergiadis said:
“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. Our football product will expand beyond our national border and will now have an international footprint. This is fitting for a club that was awarded by FIFA as the Oceania Club of the Century. This international stage will unite all football supporters behind our club as we represent our nation. We are keen to embrace all of the people from the Pacific who live in Australia as our immigrant origins reflect the broad fabric of our multicultural society.”
Co-President Andrew Mesourouni said:
“Football is in my DNA as it is with South Melbourne. 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.”
The Auckland event brought together representatives from all eight founding clubs, along with OFC officials and federation delegates, highlighting the collective commitment to developing a sustainable and competitive professional league for the Pacific.
As part of the 2026 calendar, South Melbourne FC will host a hub in Melbourne, welcoming all competing clubs to Australia. This hub will include a cultural festival of football, showcasing the unity and diversity of Oceania both on and off the pitch.
Why it matters
The establishment of the Oceania Professional League represents a milestone for the growth of football across the region. It creates:
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Professional opportunities for players to compete in a full-time environment
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Player pathways for emerging Australian and Pacific footballers to reach higher levels of competition
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Career development for administrators, analysts, coaches and operational staff to work within a professional structure
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Regional collaboration between nations that share deep historical and cultural football connections
For South Melbourne FC, recognised by the OFC as the Oceania Club of the Century, participation in this league signifies a return to a region that has been central to its history and success. It reinforces the club’s ambition to be part of professional football once again, while continuing to create clear pathways from youth to senior levels for players and staff alike.
Further announcements regarding fixtures, travel schedules and fan engagement opportunities will be made in the coming weeks.