Bula FC and Vanuatu United Play Out Draw in Empty Stadium

What the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) claims is a new professional league got underway with a 2–2 draw between Bula FC and Vanuatu United FC, but the historic fixture was played in front of an almost empty stadium, raising early questions about public interest in the competition.

The match, held at Eden Park in Auckland, marked the opening game of the OFC Pro League — a tournament promoted as a major step toward professionalising club football in the Pacific.

Despite the significance of the occasion, large sections of the stadium were vacant, with only a small number of spectators in attendance.

On the field, Vanuatu United made history when Alex Saniel scored the first goal of the competition to take an early lead. Bula FC responded through star signing Roy Krishna, who equalised before halftime.

Bula FC then moved ahead in the second half after Nabil Begg found the net, putting the Fijian side in front. However, Vanuatu United ensured the points were shared after scoring a late equaliser in stoppage time with a long-range effort.

While the football itself was competitive and delivered moments of quality, the lack of crowd atmosphere was striking. The empty stands stood in sharp contrast to the ambitions attached to the OFC Pro League, which aims to lift playing standards, commercial value, and fan engagement across Oceania.