New Zealand Football and Auckland FC, working in partnership with federations and clubs, have today signed a partnership agreement to support the growth and progression of future professional players from the amateur domestic game to the A-Leagues and beyond.
The agreement, which is supported by FIFA, sees Auckland FC align with New Zealand Football’s High Performance and Talent Development Plan to promote the development of emerging Kiwi players, while also rewarding domestic clubs for their talent development efforts.
Under national and international regulations, transfer fee solidarity payments, FIFA World Cup solidarity payments, and national training compensation all financially reward clubs involved in the development of professional players.
Since 2022, community clubs in Aotearoa New Zealand have received over $1.5 million NZD in recognition of their role in developing talent to support their continued efforts to produce professional players.
With the All Whites qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026 secured, in addition to the Ford Football Ferns regularly attending FIFA Women’s World Cups, these payments are set to increase significantly in future years.
The partnership, which echoes a similar agreement with Wellington Phoenix, is a part of FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme designed to ensure that the professional player pathway is accessible for the best talent in the country and that there is strong alignment between professional club programmes and the player development work of federations and clubs throughout Aotearoa.
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell sees the huge potential of aligning talent development systems across the national body and two professional sides:
“Alongside the pride of playing a role in developing international and professional players, the international football system is designed to reward player development efforts at all levels, whether through solidarity payments arising from transfer fees or FIFA World Cup qualification.
“When the football system in New Zealand is working well, and in alignment, we have seen significant payments flow down to the community club level in recognition of their work.
“This year, alongside our National Competitions plan, we will review the Talent Development Programme (TDP) delivered in our Dettol National League clubs to ensure it is fit for purpose and has strong alignment and connection with the professional club programmes.
“Auckland FC have made a big impact in their first A-League Men season and have partnered with the vast majority of the TDP clubs in the region which has really resonated with the football community.”
Nick Becker, CEO at Auckland FC, said:
“Playing for your national team is one of the highest honours a player can experience and the dream of many. Thanks to this partnership, we’ll now be able to support more players in realising that dream.
“We have 18 Kiwi players, 11 of them with All Whites experience, and we’ve developed partnerships with nearly all the TDP clubs north of Tauranga.
“One of our founding missions as a club was to provide a pathway to support more young footballers to make it as professionals. This partnership supports that.
“New Zealand Football, Auckland FC, federations, and the TDP clubs are now all aligned, with clubs receiving support and recognition for the work they do in nurturing future talent and developing a love of the global game.”
The partnership is agreed for an initial two-year term and comes into effect immediately.
