OFC president Lambert Maltock said the deal is an important step for the region. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
Soccer's governing body in the region, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and Football Australia announced on Monday that they have signed a new deal to work together to grow the sport until 2029.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU), covering a wide range of areas including player pathways, coaching and refeering development, was signed at the 2025 Australian Football Leadership Summit in Sydney.
The OFC said the agreement cements decades of collaboration and establishes a clear framework for future development between the two organisations.
OFC president Lambert Maltock said the deal is an important step for the region.
"Australia has deep roots in Oceania football, and this MoU marks an important step in strengthening our partnership."
Maltock said that working with Football Australia would bring new opportunities, resources, and expertise that would benefit players, coaches, referees and communities across the Pacific.
"This directly connects with OFC's strategic pillars: Development, Education, and High Performance and will pave the way to success both on and off the pitch, while also building stronger ties between our Member Associations and Football Australia," he added.
The partnership is designed to ensure football communities in both Oceania and Australia are strengthened, with opportunities and expertise flowing both ways.
According to the OFC, a key element of the agreement is Football Australia's formal support for the establishment of the OFC Professional League, set to begin in January 2026.
It said that by sharing technical, governance, regulatory, and competition expertise, Football Australia will contribute to the league's success as a professional pathway and qualification route for international competitions, benefitting clubs and players across Oceania.
Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac said the agreement reinforces a long-standing partnership.
The partnership builds on the legacy of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, as well as New Zealand clubs' participation in the A-Leagues and ongoing sports diplomacy initiatives across the Pacific.
