Brisbane-backed Solomon Kings accepted into new competition

Brisbane-backed Solomon Kings has been accepted into the Oceania Football Confederation’s new FIFA-backed Pro League, deepening links between the Solomon Islands and Queensland.

The joint venture between the Solomon Islands Football Federation and Brisbane bayside club Wynnum Wolves will play their first match in January, subject to the final licensing and compliance process.

The fledgling club has been touted as an opportunity for Australia to counter China’s growing influence in the Pacific nation, similar to the federal government’s $600 million commitment to a Papua New Guinea NRL team.

“This is a historic moment for Oceania football. For the first time, our region will have a professional league that provides a pathway for players, coaches, and clubs to compete at the highest level within the Pacific,” OFC secretary Franck Castillo said.

Other teams accepted into the eight-team competition were A-League club Auckland FC and Christchurch United from New Zealand, Bula Boys FC (Fiji), Hekari United FC (Papua New Guinea), Tahiti United, Vanuatu FC, and Oceania club of the century South Melbourne as a sole team from outside the OFC region.

Wolves president Rabieh Krayem has been named vice-chairman of the Kings, which would be jointly based out of Honiara and Brisbane.

Eventually, Krayem said, the Kings hoped to play some home matches at a redeveloped Perry Park.

“This is an historic moment for our community football club and we are extremely honoured to be building on our wonderful shared history with our great football friends in the Solomon Islands to create new opportunities for players in the Solomon Islands and at Wynnum,” he said.

Speaking before the Kings’ acceptance was confirmed, club chairman Don Marahare – also president of the SIFF – said the Wolves’ links with the Solomon Islands ran deep.

“This is not the first time Wynnum has had a connection with Solomon Islands football,” he said.

“Way back, the partnership was more in terms of getting one or two players from the Solomon Islands to go over.

“But what’s happening now is more than just that. It is about developing football here in the Solomons.

“Wynnum Wolves has a connection with Borussia Dortmund and, given that connection, I think this is a very big step forward for us here in the Solomons.”

The first OFC Professional League season will run from January to May 2026, with each club playing a minimum of 17 matches.

One surprise omission was A-League club Wellington Phoenix, which was “immensely disappointed” to miss out on a potential route to the FIFA Club World Cup.

Oceania representative Auckland City took home more than $A7 million for competing at this year’s tournament.

“How the Phoenix, as the only professional club in Oceania for over 15 years, could not be included in the first OFC Pro League is nonsensical,” Phoenix general manager David Dome said.

“The Phoenix have fought for football in Oceania since 2007. We are the only club in the OFC region with a fully staffed, eight-team professional academy, the only club in Oceania with a professional pathway for women’s footballers, we have world-class training facilities and we have invested more money into football in the region than any other private organisation.

“We are considering a judicial review of the process and how the licensing decision has been made.”

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