Oceania Football boss ducks Saudi funding questions, reveals ambitious plans at Pro League launch
Wednesday, 29 October 2025
The launch event for a new sports competition is usually the time when administrators seek to give sponsors their dues.
But Oceania Football Confederation general secretary Franck Castillo didn’t want to talk about a potential sponsor of its new men's Pro League – featuring New Zealand clubs Auckland FC and South Island United – as it was launched at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday night.
Fiji Football Association president Rajesh Patel – a member of the OFC Executive Committee and the FIFA Council – revealed last week that the Saudi Tourism Authority was set to invest US$20m [NZ$35m] in the Pro League over the course of its first four years.
“We are thankful for this investment, which makes professional football a reality in our region,” Patel said at a launch event for Fiji's Pro League entrant – Bula FC – as reported on the Fiji Football Association's website last Friday.
It had previously been indicated OFC would be covering costs (except for player and staff salaries) for the first four years of the Pro League to the tune of $US40m [NZ$70m], with FIFA – the global governing body – providing financial assistance.
It is not clear whether the Saudi Tourism Authority's US$20m is in addition to that amount or included in it.
When asked about sources of funding on Wednesday, Castillo said: “We are still finalising. We cannot answer yet. We are formalising everything, but in due course we will announce all the funding, but let's say that it's secured.“
Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars in sports competitions, events and teams around the world in recent years, spending that has drawn criticism from organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as being an example of sportswashing – using sports to project a favourable image of a nation and distract from wrongdoing such as human rights abuses.
Pressed on whether the Saudi Tourism Authority's reported investment in the Oceania Pro League was the latest example of Saudi sportswashing, Castillo said: “I won't comment on that, but when it comes to partnerships, I will explain (later).
“We've got a good reason to partner with the people who want to partner.”
Castillo did confirm the start date for the first season of the Pro League had been pushed back a week from January 10 to January 17 next year.
He also revealed Eden Park would host the first round of matches and that it would also host the final in May – an ambitious choice of venue.
When New Zealand's All Whites and New Caledonia played at Eden Park in the Oceania World Cup qualifying final in March, a crowd of 25,132 fans turned out – just over half the venue's capacity – for what was the biggest match ever played between two teams from the region.
Asked if he was confident a strong crowd would be attracted for the first match of a brand-new competition with a far smaller profile than a high-stakes World Cup playoff, Castillo said playing at Eden Park “shows our commitment, and it shows our passion and the trust that we have in football“.
The eight Pro League clubs are each set to play a minimum of 17 matches before semifinals and finals are held to determine a champion in May.
They will gather for six three-match blocks ahead of the finals, with Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands set to host matches in addition to New Zealand.
After the first 14 matches, the competition will split into a top four and a bottom four.
The winner will qualify for the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup while the best-performing team over the first three seasons of the Pro League is set to qualify for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
While OFC is yet to announce the match schedule for the Pro League, it is understood Auckland FC and South Island United are likely to meet for the first time on the opening day.
South Island United general manager Ryan Edwards said the prospect of playing at Eden Park was “special“.
“I think it does create a moment where the public can go, oh, this is a proper deal, and it gives that status and that gravitas that the league deserves.”
Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker was more circumspect.
“Filling Eden Park is a challenge for any team outside of the ones that wear the Silver Fern, so it'll be a hard one to pack out for sure, but I think I'm sure they've looked at what's available in terms of stadiums and they've had to make this decision.”
Auckland have attracted average crowds of 18,615 to Go Media Stadium in Penrose since joining A-League Men last season, including a crowd of 14,767 for their first home match of the 2025-26 season against Western Sydney Wanderers last Saturday.
Becker said Auckland would do their part to try to ensure the Pro League makes a strong start.
“Like any competition we play in, we'll support it, and we'll want our fans to turn up and and support us in the rounds that are here in New Zealand.
“We want to have that home town advantage, so we hope our fans show up to support us.”