OFC / the mid-major

The OFC is the Oceania Football Confederation — the soccer confederation for New Zealand and the Pacific islands. Think of it as one of FIFA's six regional conferences — the smallest, playing since 2006 without Australia (who left for Asia's tougher schedule). Semi-pro Auckland City win the club title so often they keep ending up at the Club World Cup with day jobs waiting at home. And the 2026 expansion finally gave Oceania a guaranteed World Cup seat — New Zealand claimed the first one.