The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) 31st Ordinary Congress has taken place in Asunción, Paraguay, on the eve of the 75th FIFA Congress.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the congress via video, to congratulate and celebrate the incredible development football the Oceania region has seen over the last twelve months, including a record number of OFC national teams qualifying to FIFA international tournaments.
“I speak to you, not only with warm memories, but with great pride. Pride in what you have achieved. Pride in how far Oceania has come.
“Football in Oceania is thriving and the opportunities before you are greater than ever,” President Infantino remarked.
“Under the leadership of your FIFA Vice President and OFC President Lambert Maltock, we have seen historic qualifications, unforgettable victories and a series of firsts that are helping to further develop and possibly shape the football landscape in your region,” President Infantino continued.
These achievements have included FIFA World Cup™ qualification for Fiji (FIFA U-17 World Cup™), Samoa (FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™), as well as New Zealand’s qualification to the FIFA World Cup 26™ and New Caledonia’s place in the FIFA World Cup 26™ Play-off Tournament.
2026 will be an historic year for OFC and football in the Pacific, with the launch of the OFC Professional League – the region’s first-ever professional football league.
OFC President Lambert Maltock, in his speech to Congress, highlighted the lasting impacts that this development will have, far beyond the action on the pitch.
“Our focus on launching the OFC Professional League in 2026 has brought our region closer to a future where our clubs, our players, and our people can aspire to the highest standards.
“Together with our Member Associations and partners, we are building a league that will transform the landscape of football in Oceania, step by step,” President Maltock said.
The President also highlighted the impressive grassroots development that OFC has worked hard to drive, with a particular focus on the women’s game.
“We have invested in our future — engaging over 70,000 young players through our academies and grassroots programmes, with a strong focus on inclusion and gender equality.
“In women’s football, we saw extraordinary growth, especially in New Zealand, where participation rose by 27%. New leadership and coaching pathways for women are creating opportunities like never before.”
Emphasis was also made by President Maltock on OFC’s digital presence, with an impressive growth over the past year, highlighting the rising interest in football across the region.
The number of fans and followers across OFC’s digital platforms grew by 19%, from 239,947 in 2023 to 286,456 in 2024. Engagement also increased, with interactions rising by 21% to reach 2.68 million.
Livestreaming views more than doubled — from 1.09 million in 2023 to 2.28 million in 2024, an 81% increase.
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez, who was present at the Congress on behalf of the FIFA President, addressed the delegates and reaffirmed CONMEBOL’s commitment to the region, stating:
“The Memorandum of Understanding signed with OFC represents our total commitment to working hand in hand. You are transforming football in Oceania with the OFC Professional League — it’s a big step forward not only for today’s players but for the next generation. Big congratulations for that.”
As OFC enters the implementation phase of the OFC Professional League, amendments to the current OFC Statutes were approved to accommodate the creation of the league to ensure cohesiveness across the Articles and operational efficiency for decision makers.
OFC also successfully appointed a further nine members to their respective judicial bodies and standing committees, aligning their term of service with the Members elected in 2024.
These decisions further enforced OFC’s continual commitment to maintaining good governance principles across all decisions made at OFC.
Photo Credit: FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images