Oceania Champions League – Everything you need to know
The OFC Champions League kicks off in just a few hours. Here’s all you need to be up to date for the big showdown.
The Oceania edition of the Champions League is set to be held in Fiji.
4R Govind Park in Ba will host nine matches at the tournament, including both semi-finals and the final, whilst Churchill Park in Lautoka will host the other six matches.
The teams:
There are eight teams ready to duke it out on the big stage.
- GROUP A: Central Coast FC (Solomon Islands), Auckland City FC (New Zealand), AS Venus (Tahiti), AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia)
- GROUP B: Lae City FC (Papua New Guinea), Tupapa Maraerenga FC (Cook Islands), Galaxy FC (Vanuatu), Rewa FC (Fiji)
See below for a full guide to each team.
How and when to watch?
The 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League will be streamed live and free on DAZN.
You can watch the Oceania Champions League by clicking here
All kick-off times local Fiji time
Match Day 1
Sunday, August 9
Group B
Lae City FC v Tupapa Maraerenga FC, 12pm | WATCH HERE
Galaxy FC v Rewa FC, 3pm | WATCH HERE
Match Day 2
Monday, August 10
Group A
AS Venus v AS Tiga Sport, 12pm | WATCH LIVE
Central Coast FC v Auckland City FC, 3pm | WATCH LIVE
Match Day 3
Wednesday, August 12
Group B
Rewa FC v Tupapa Maraerenga FC, 4pm | WATCH LIVE
Lae City FC v Galaxy FC, 7pm | WATCH LIVE
Match Day 4
Thursday, August 13
Group A
AS Tiga Sport v Auckland City FC, 12pm | WATCH LIVE
Central Coast FC v AS Venus, 3pm | WATCH LIVE
Match Day 5
Saturday, August 15
Group B
Tupapa Maraerenga FC v Galaxy FC, 12pm | WATCH LIVE
Rewa FC v Lae City FC, 3pm | WATCH LIVE
Match Day 6
Sunday, August 16
Group A
Auckland City FC v AS Venus, 12pm | WATCH LIVE
AS Tiga Sport v Central Coast FC, 3pm | WATCH LIVE
Semi-finals
Wednesday, August 19
Group A Winner v Group B Winner, 3pm
Group B Winner v Group A Winner, 7pm
Final
Saturday, August 22
Semi-final 1 Winner v Semi-final 2 Winner, 3pm
Team profiles:
Below you’ll find a guide to each team, with squad lists as per July 28th.
Auckland City (New Zealand)
Coach: Rudy Mozr
Previous tournament appearances: 20 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Best finish: 13x Champions (2006, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
No club has achieved more success in Oceania then 13-time OFC Men’s Champions League winners Auckland City FC.
The New Zealand powerhouses have qualified for each of the last 20 editions of the tournament dating back to 2005 and have lifted the trophy on four consecutive occasions since 2022. From the 112 games they’ve played at the OFC Men’s Champions League, they’ve lost just nine, and in achieving such success, Auckland City have represented OFC at the FIFA Club World Cup on 12 occasions, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup twice.
Whilst qualification for FIFA tournaments may not be available for the winner of the OFC Men’s Champions League anymore, the opportunity to be crowned champions of Oceania remains a coveted tag for Auckland City.
After defeating Hekari United FC 2-0 in the final last year, the Navy Blues travel to Fiji with a new head coach at the helm, 35-year-old Czech Rudy Mozr.
Twelve members of the squad remain from their OFC Men’s Champions League triumph in 2025, including 8-time winner Ryan De Vries, and captain and 6-time winner Maro Ilich. Mozr has also welcomed six players with OFC Pro League experience into the squad, including returning centre-back Christian Gray from South Island United, Matt Ellis and Michael Den Heijer from Auckland FC, and Fergus Gillion and Matt Foord from Bula FC.
With the wealth of experience and quality in their line-up, Auckland City FC will again start as title favorites in Fiji.
Team List
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| Cam | Brown | 1 | GK |
| Mario | Ilich | 2 | MF |
| Christian | Gray | 4 | DF |
| Nathan | Rostron | 5 | DF |
| Nikko | Boxall | 6 | DF |
| Michal | Doudera | 7 | MF |
| Gerard | Garriga | 8 | MF |
| Dylan | Manickum | 10 | MF |
| Ryan | De Vries | 11 | FW |
| Nathan | Lobo | 13 | DF |
| Jeremy | Foo | 15 | MF |
| Fergus | Gillion | 16 | MF |
| Ryan | Watson | 17 | MF |
| Rhys | Davies | 19 | DF |
| Pavel | Osmancik | 20 | MF |
| Bono | Kacurov | 21 | FW |
| Alfie | Rogers | 23 | DF |
| Matt | Foord | 24 | GK |
| Michael | Den Heijer | 25 | DF |
| Matt | Ellis | 26 | FW |
| Tom | Golding | 27 | FW |
| Arl | Prasad | 30 | GK |
Central Coast (Solomon Islands)
Coach: Jacob Moli
Previous tournament appearances: 2 (2022, 2025)
Best Finish: Semi-finals (2022)
Representing the football-mad Solomon Islands, Central Coast FC will be appearing at their third OFC Men’s Champions League in 2026.
As tournament hosts, they suffered a disappointing exit at the group stage last year, four points not proving enough to advance past the first round despite a 7-0 victory over Tupapa Maraerenga FC and a 1-1 draw with Ifira Black Bird FC.
On debut in 2022 they reached the last four though, picking up two wins in Group A, before losing 0-2 to Auckland City FC in the semi-finals.
For a club only established in 2020, their initial success has been remarkable, quickly dominating the domestic scene and qualifying for this year’s edition of the OFC Men’s Champions League with a third Solomon Islands S-League title in 2025.
Coach Jacob Moli was at the helm for both of those previous continental campaigns and can call upon nine players who recently featured for Solomon Kings FC during the inaugural OFC Pro League.
Forward Rafa Lea’I is the most notable name, having recently spent three seasons away playing club football in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Australia. He’s joined by fellow Kings teammates Bobby Leslie, Javin Wae, Junior David, Clifford Fafale, and Hudson Oreinima, all of whom have had a taste of professional football in the Pro League.
Those players will be eager to show their professional experience in Fiji, where Central Coast will be aiming to progress from a tough group that includes the defending champions.
Team list:
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| Gideon | Abidan | 1 | GK |
| Fred | Bala | 2 | DF |
| Prince | Tahunipue | 3 | DF |
| Peter | Rarava | 4 | DF |
| Javin | Wae | 5 | DF |
| Hudyn | Irodao | 6 | FW |
| Rafa | Lea’i | 7 | FW |
| Paul | Amasia | 8 | DF |
| Fordney | Junior | 9 | FW |
| Bobby | Leslie | 10 | FW |
| Barrie | Limoki | 11 | FW |
| Hudson | Oreinima | 13 | MF |
| Junior | David | 14 | DF |
| Cyral | Enotarau | 15 | MF |
| Clifford | Faffale | 18 | FW |
| Carlos | Liomasia | 21 | MF |
| Eric | Wanega | 23 | GK |
| Raymond | Wane | 25 | GK |
| Vincent | Liuga | 27 | DF |
| Marlon | Tahioa | 30 | MF |
Galaxy FC (Vanuatu)
Coach: Batram Suri
Previous tournament experiences: 2 (2020, 2022)
Best finish: Knockout stage (2020)
Vanuatu representatives Galaxy FC are returning for a third appearance at the OFC Men’s Champions League in 2026.
If not for the rapid spread of COVID-19 they would have been semi-finalists in 2020, but the pandemic cut the tournament short after Galaxy FC had secured progression in impressive fashion from a difficult group.
Six years later, those memories remain for head coach Batram Suri, who was at the helm for that 2020 campaign, and is back in the dugout for Galaxy in Fiji.
In between there was a group stage exit in their second OFC Men’s Champions League appearance in 2022, although again they caught the eye with four points from three games.
This time Galaxy FC are hoping to strike their semi-final aspirations third-time lucky, with respected former Solomon Islands legend Suri back at the helm.
His squad features Solomon Islands internationals Michael Laulae and Aengari Gagame, as well as Brazilians Willian Dos Santos Silva and Roberson Dos Santos Ribeiro, mixed in with a strong core of homegrown talent which includes Vanuatu internationals Kensi Tangis, Bong Kalo, and Jeffrey Tasso.
Suri believes Galaxy FC can make history in 2026, and after previous heartbreak at the group stage, sees this as their chance to make inroads on the continental stage.
Team List
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| Michael | Laulae | 1 | GK |
| Selwyn | Vatu | 2 | DF |
| Aengari | Gagame | 3 | DF |
| Bob Fredson | Bae | 4 | DF |
| Tasso | Jeffrey | 5 | DF |
| Dondy | Kileteir | 6 | DF |
| Joe | Moses | 7 | FW |
| Andrew | Malakai | 8 | MF |
| Willian | Dos Santos Medina | 9 | FW |
| Roberson | Dos Santos Ribiero | 10 | MF |
| Bong | Kalo | 11 | MF |
| Henry | Namatak | 14 | DF |
| Sandy | Wilson | 15 | DF |
| Claude | Aru | 17 | MF |
| Romain | Luake | 18 | FW |
| Thomas | Maliwan | 19 | FW |
| Joshua | Willie | 20 | GK |
| Andrew | Vuti | 21 | MF |
| Armando | Ravo | 22 | MF |
| Michel | Soksok | 23 | FW |
| Kensi | Tangis | 24 | FW |
| Jeffe | Willy | 27 | MF |
| Alison | Hungai | 30 | GK |
Lae City FC (Papua New Guinea)
Coach: Valentine Nelson
Previous tournament appearances: 6 (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022)
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2018, 2019)
Making their seventh appearance at the OFC Men’s Champions League, Lae City FC are returning to continental competition in Fiji after four years away.
The Papua New Guinea representatives appeared at six consecutive editions of the OFC Men’s Champions League between 2016 – 2022, twice reaching the quarter-finals in 2018 and 2019, but have taken their time getting back to this stage.
The last time Lae City were here in 2022, they failed to win any of their three games and crashed out at the group stage with just a single point to their name.
Club stalwart Valentine Nelson has stepped up to take the reins as head coach for their OFC Men’s Champions League return, having played in five of Lae City’s six previous campaigns. His experience will be key for what is a largely youthful side.
Matthew Sopo, David Tita, and Bomecge Basanuc, have all recently represented and impressed for Papua New Guinea at age-group national team level, bringing plenty of fresh energy and raw talent to the side. Veteran senior players like Ronald Warisan and Phillip Steven are key heads that will need to be relied upon though, if they aren’t to be found out of their depth.
Drawn into Group B, Lae City will see opportunity for progression and could be dark horses to keep an eye on in Fiji.
Team List
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| Daniel | Sakora | 1 | GK |
| Philip | Steven | 3 | DF |
| Charles | Hayes | 4 | DF |
| Langarap | Samol | 5 | DF |
| Ricky | Nathan | 6 | DF |
| Sileon | Hatagao | 7 | MF |
| Gorden | Mark | 8 | MF |
| Solomon | Kamake | 9 | FW |
| David | Tita | 11 | FW |
| Gabby | Yanum | 12 | DF |
| Leonard | Mosibia | 15 | DF |
| Ruel | Api | 16 | MF |
| Elizah | Bonga | 17 | MF |
| Nalau | Moses | 18 | FW |
| Hosea | Sikoko | 19 | MF |
| Ronald | Warisan | 20 | GK |
| Raphael | Rudolf | 21 | FW |
| Matthew | Sopo | 22 | MF |
| Smith | Yonny | 24 | MF |
| Timothy | Bogan | 25 | DF |
| Bomecge | Basananuc | 26 | DF |
| Elias | Philip | 29 | DF |
| Kayoka | Gilindec | 30 | GK |
Rewa FC (Fiji)
Coach: Tevita Waranaivalu
Previous tournament appearances: 4 (2017, 2022, 2024, 2025)
Best finish: Semi-finals (2024)
Rewa FC will carry the expectations of the host nation when they welcome Oceania to Fiji for OFC Men’s Champions League 2026.
Appearing at the tournament for the third consecutive edition and the fifth time overall, Rewa were semifinalists in 2024 where they lost in extra-time to AS Pirae. It remains the only time they have advanced past the group stage of the tournament, but hopes are high this time around with a squad bolstered by talent who recently impressed in the OFC Pro League.
Player/coach Tevita Waranaivalu was one of those who played in Oceania’s first professional league earlier in the year and will lead from the dugout, having played in all four of Rewa’s previous group stage campaigns.
His squad features seven players who were part of the Bula FC squad, including Semi Nabenu and Setareki Hughes. Waranaivalu has also convinced Tahiti United teammate and New Caledonia international Joseph Athale to join for the OFC Men’s Champions League, as well as Solomon Kings FC forward Don Keana and Brazilian import Lucas Santos.
They may be playing the tournament 200 kilometers away from their home province of Nausori, but with the professional experience they’ve assembled, Rewa look to be leading the contenders to topple Auckland City FC at OFC Men’s Champions League 2026.
Team List
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| James | Do’oro | 1 | GK |
| Semi | Nabenu | 2 | DF |
| Ivan | Kumar | 3 | DF |
| Gabiriele | Matanisiga | 4 | DF |
| Lucas | Santos | 5 | MF |
| Neemish | Prasad | 6 | MF |
| Ramzan | Khan | 7 | MF |
| Setareki | Hughes | 8 | MF |
| Merrill | Nand | 9 | FW |
| Don | Keana | 10 | FW |
| Madhwan | Gounder | 11 | DF |
| Tevita | Waranaivalu | 12 | MF |
| Epeli | Valevou | 13 | FW |
| Josaia | Sela | 14 | FW |
| Delon | Shankar | 15 | DF |
| Kavaia | Rawaqa | 16 | DF |
| Asivorosi | Rabo | 17 | FW |
| Sitiveni | Rakai | 18 | DF |
| Joseph | Athale | 19 | MF |
| Mosese | Nabose | 20 | MF |
| Mohammad | Aziz | 21 | GK |
| Epeli | Loaniceva | 22 | GK |
| Semi | Matalau | 23 | FW |
AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia)
Coach: Léonardo Lopez
Previous tournament appearances: 2 (2023, 2025)
Best finish: Semi-finals (2025)
Fresh from a run to the last four in the Solomon Islands last year, New Caledonian club AS Tiga Sport are returning to the OFC Men’s Champions League for a third time in four editions.
Originally founded in 1965, AS Tiga Sport have enjoyed unprecedented success in recent years, winning three New Caledonian Super Ligue titles since 2020.
Following a group stage exit in their OFC Men’s Champions League debut in 2023, four points were enough to squeeze into the last four on goal difference last year, before losing 1-0 to Hekari United FC in a closely contested semi-final.
French coach Léonardo Lopez has been a key driver since taking charge in 2023, leading the club in both of their previous two OFC Men’s Champions League campaigns, and to AS Tiga Sport’s third Super Ligue trophy last year.
Whilst they don’t have any players with OFC Pro League experience, the Welepane brothers, Shene and Josué, are familiar names at the OFC Men’s Champions League, and two of six New Caledonian internationals in the squad who were called up for their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final play-off with Jamaica earlier in the year.
As dual coach of the New Caledonian U-17 national team (who he is set to lead at FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026 in Morocco later this year), Lopez also has an eye for developing young talent and could utilise some fresh faces in Fiji.
They may start as underdogs in a tough Group A at OFC Men’s Champions League 2026, but AS Tiga Sport have the capability to spring a surprise or two.
Team List
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| Thomas | Schmidt | 1 | GK |
| Florian | Gope | 2 | DF |
| Josué | Welepane | 4 | DF |
| Andre | Malla | 6 | DF |
| Gutacene | Wadra | 7 | MF |
| Morgan | Mathelon | 8 | DF |
| Willy | Read | 9 | FW |
| Antoine | Simane | 10 | MF |
| Pierre | Iekawe | 11 | FW |
| Shene | Welepane | 12 | MF |
| Kuane | Wawalaha | 13 | MF |
| Bento | Lages | 14 | FW |
| Ilhan | Iekawe | 15 | MF |
| Raphaël | Genton | 16 | GK |
| Steevy | Andrew | 18 | DF |
| Jean-Yves | Saiko | 19 | FW |
| Jythrim | Upa | 21 | FW |
| Iwane | Tain | 22 | MF |
| Gregory | Taramoin | 24 | DF |
| Waicane | Uregei | 26 | MF |
| Yannick | Ipunesso | 27 | MF |
| Loic Lue | Toto | 29 | MF |
| Hnaloane | Imeot | 30 | GK |
Tupapa Maraerenga FC (Cook Islands)
Coach: Paavo Mustonen
Previous tournament appearances: 5 (2001, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2025)
Best finish: Group Stage
Winners of the qualifying tournament for the second year in a row, Tupapa Mararenga FC have reached the group stages of the OFC Men’s Champions League for the sixth time.
The Cook Islanders proved too strong for their three opponents during OFC Men’s Champions League 2026 – Qualifying on home soil in Rarotonga earlier in the year, finishing unbeaten with seven points from three games, and conceding just one goal.
It’s been 25 long years since they last tasted a win at the final tournament proper though – a 2-1 victory over American Samoa’s PanSa FC in the group stages of the 2001 edition. They’ve since gone four group stage campaigns without putting a win on the board, scoring just five goals in 12 games, including three heavy defeats at last year’s tournament in the Solomon Islands.
Head coach Paavo Mustonen will be eager to end that winless rut in Fiji, having previously played in three qualifying campaigns for the club.
He was able to call upon six loanee players for the qualifiers back in February, but only two have been named in the squad to compete in the group stage six months later – midfielders Aadil Kamaldeen and Dallas Rongokea. They complement a group of homegrown players, most of whom have international caps for the Cook Islands.
Tupapa Maraerenga FC carry the familiar underdog tag with them into the tournament,but will be eager to make an impression this time.
Team List
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| Moana | Rakei | 1 | GK |
| Marcus | Gibbens | 2 | DF |
| Tauhiki | Bohl | 3 | FW |
| Honoura | Maraetefau | 4 | DF |
| Maui | Denny | 5 | MF |
| Ngametua | Tuakana | 6 | FW |
| Aadil | Kamaldeen | 7 | MF |
| Jarves | Aperau | 8 | DF |
| Moses | Taokia | 9 | DF |
| Kima | Webb | 10 | FW |
| Temaruata | Tearaitoa | 11 | FW |
| Shane | Tuteru | 12 | DF |
| Grover | Harmon | 13 | MF |
| Tremaine | Rimene-Albrett | 14 | MF |
| Dwayne | Tiputoa | 15 | FW |
| Sean | Angene | 16 | DF |
| Dallas | Rongokea | 17 | MF |
| Key | Viliamu | 18 | DF |
| Owenne | Matapo | 19 | MF |
| Geoffrey | Strickland | 19 | MF |
| Tahiri | Elikana | 20 | GK |
| Avi | Henderson-Enoka | 21 | DF |
| Oscar | Wichman | 22 | DF |
AS Vénus (Tahiti)
Coach: Vateanui Tehau
Previous tournament appearances: 5 (1999, 2001, 2018, 2020, 2022)
Best finish: Runners-up (2022)
Four years on from reaching the final, Tahitian heavyweights AS Vénus make their return to the OFC Men’s Champions League for a sixth appearance.
Based in the commune of Mahina in Northern Tahiti, AS Vénus have a long history at Oceania’s continental club championship, having made their debut at the second edition of the tournament in 1999.
On that occasion they were losing semi-finalists to eventual champions South Melbourne FC and have since reached the last four on two other occasions, including 2001, and more recently in 2022. Played in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic four years ago, AS Vénus stood 90 minutes away from lifting the trophy after reaching the final, only to lose 2-0 to Auckland City FC.
There’ll be a case of déjà vu given AS Vénus have been drawn alongside Auckland City again in Fiji (and for the third time in the group stage overall), after qualifying for the tournament with the club’s 11th Tahitian domestic league title last year.
Vateanui Tehau, the father figure of Tahitian football’s most famous family, will lead AS Vénus from the dugout in Fiji. He’s bolstered his squad with ten players who featured for Tahiti United in the OFC Pro League, including Roonui Tehau, Pothin Poma, Mathis Lacan, Manuarii Shan, and New Caledonian international Germain Haewegene.
AS Vénus have struggled domestically in 2026, but with the return of their big guns for the OFC Men’s Champions League, they will be eager to make an impact.
Team List
| First name | Last name | Shirt number | Position |
| Tetahio | Teriinohopuaiterai | 1 | GK |
| Malam | Richmond | 2 | DF |
| Kevin | Barbe | 3 | DF |
| Punua | Tetuaiteroi | 4 | DF |
| Pothin | Poma | 5 | DF |
| Mauri | Heitaa | 6 | DF |
| Roonui | Tehau | 8 | MF |
| Moeava | Kaiha | 9 | FW |
| Germain | Haewegene | 10 | FW |
| Manuarii | Shan | 11 | FW |
| Keahinui | Brown | 12 | FW |
| Tamahei | Hauata | 13 | DF |
| Kalï | Lenoir | 14 | DF |
| Hyrum | Jones | 15 | MF |
| Pouira | Merahi | 17 | MF |
| Lyssandro | Martinez | 18 | FW |
| Mathis | Lacan | 19 | FW |
| Mana | Teniau | 20 | MF |
| Herehau | Reichart | 22 | GK |
| Ariiheivarau | Tama | 24 | MF |
| Manoa | Flores | 25 | MF |
| Vaitoarii | Taupua | 27 | FW |
| Tumatarii | Liu | 28 | DF |
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