New Zealand football fans are in for a treat in 2026 with the announcement that the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) have teamed up with TVNZ+ to show matches in the newly formed OFC Pro League.
The first regional broadcast deal for the competition sees the exciting news that production giants TVNZ+ will show all Auckland FC and South Island United matches, both domestic and international, for the inaugural 2026 campaign.
The signing of the partnership with the renowned Kiwi broadcasters signifies the first television deal for the newly created professional league with negotiations regarding broadcast rights for the Pro League in other parts of the region currently being finalised.
The Pro League, which contains eight teams from seven different nations and will kick-off in January 2026, will see both Kiwi teams break new ground and supporters can follow every kick of the ball with live coverage of the duo’s matches on TVNZ+.
All Auckland FC and South Island United matches from the five Circuit Series rounds will be shown live on TVNZ+, as will both semi-finals and the historic Pro League Final, scheduled for Eden Park on Sunday 24 May.
“We are extremely pleased that TVNZ+ has committed to showing all matches involving both teams from New Zealand,” OFC General Secretary, Franck Castillo, commented.
“Our vision for the Pro League was always to create a league to capture the hearts and minds of the football community in the Oceanic region. This first broadcast deal is an integral part of that vision as we seek exposure for what will be an historic first season of football in the Pacific.
“TVNZ+ has a tradition of showcasing the game to the New Zealand football community, and the addition of the Pro League to their output continues that great support of our sport.
“This is just the first of our broadcast deals to be concluded and we thank TVNZ+ for their support and look forward to watching their coverage throughout the tournament.”
TVNZ (Te Reo Tātaki) has a long history as New Zealand’s leading voice in broadcasting. It is a commercially funded Crown entity that reaches over 2 million New Zealanders daily through its various platforms and is widely respected.
“The Pro League fits in perfectly in our growing football portfolio and our aim to continue building football fandom ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Melodie Robinson, Head of Sports, Events and Partnerships at TVNZ said.
The OFC Pro League commences on 17 January 2025 with Circuit 1 held in Auckland, New Zealand. Action starts on the Saturday with Bula FC playing Vanuatu United before the All-Kiwi derby clash as Auckland FC take on South Island United.