Tahiti have opened their OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup 2026 campaign with an emphatic 18-1 victory over Vanuatu on home sands at Aorai Tini Hau.
Three players scored hat-tricks, including 2024 Golden Boot winner Heirauarii Salem, as the Tiki Toa began their quest for a record fifth continental crown in style.
Tahiti scored eight goals in the first period, seven in the second and three in the third, finishing six goals short of the largest winning margin in tournament history.
The hosts wasted little time asserting themselves, with two goals from Ro’onui Tinirauarii and one from Roonui Lesca propelling them into a three-goal lead inside the opening four minutes.
Salem then took centre stage, completing his hat-trick in a four-minute spell during the first period, with two of his goals coming from overhead kicks.
Having scored 11 goals at the 2024 edition, he needed just one match to pass the halfway mark towards that tally this time around. He completed his double hat-trick with an early contender for goal of the tournament, firing a long-range overhead effort into the top-left corner for Tahiti’s 17th goal – which capped a player of the match performance.
Lesca completed his hat-trick early in the second period, whilst Tinirauarii added three more goals to his opening two strikes to finish with five.
Tearii Labaste, Matatia Paama and Gervais Chan Kat were also on the scoresheet for the Tiki Toa.
Vanuatu had won the first three tournament meetings between the nations in 2006, 2007 and 2009, but endured a difficult return to the competition after a seven-year absence. Their consolation came through Batis Alick, who scored their only goal in the 19th minute.
Vanuatu: 1 (Batis ALICK 19’)
Tahiti: 18 (Ro’onui TINIRUARII 3’, 3’, 21’, 24’, 25’, Roonui LESCA 4’, 5’, 13’, Heirauarii SALEM 6’, 8’, 9’, 22’, 23’, 31’, 32’, Tearii LABASTE 11’, Matatia PAAMA 15’, Gervais CHAN KAT 21’)
Earlier in the day, the Solomon Islands defeated New Caledonia 10-5 in the opening match of OFC Beach Soccer Men’s Nations Cup 2026.
Erick Wanega and Adrian Mara led the way with three goals each as the Solomon Islands secured a comfortable victory over a New Caledonian side returning to the tournament for the first time in seven years.
Nine of their ten goals came in the first two periods, providing the perfect start to their campaign as they bid to lift the trophy for the first time in 13 years in Tahiti.
New Caledonia had failed to score in either of their two previous meetings with the Solomon Islands at the tournament, but took the lead inside the opening four minutes through Jean-Pierre Ayawa, their only returning player from the 2019 campaign.
Their lead lasted only a matter of moments, however, as Wanega responded immediately from the restart. Mara, Roy Mafane and goalkeeper Roy Funusui also got on the scoresheet as the Solomon Islands took a 4-1 lead into the first break.
The second period proved their most productive, with Wanega scoring twice in 60 seconds to complete the tournament’s first hat-trick – a performance that would earn him the player of the match award.
The Bilikiki Boys added three more goals before the second break to establish a commanding 9-3 lead and put themselves firmly on course for all three points.
New Caledonia did well to stem the flow in the third period, conceding just once, and scoring four of the match’s final six goals to reduce the deficit. Gilles Xanatre finished with a brace, whilst Makaluë Xowi and Daniel Tagawa also found the net on their side’s return to the tournament.
Mara completed his hat-trick with the Solomon Islands’ only goal of the final period, to finish their tally in the double-digits.
The Solomon Islands will face Tahiti in a potential dress rehearsal for the final, whilst New Caledonia take on Vanuatu when action resumes at Aorai Tini Hau on Monday.
New Caledonia: 5 (Jean-Pierre AYAWA 4’, Gilles XANATRE 20’, 23’, Makaluë XOWI 25’, Daniel TAGAWA 36’)
Solomon Islands: 10 (Erick WANEGA 4’, 14’, 14’, Adrian MARA 5’, 20’, 29’, Roy MAFANE 10’, Roy FUNUSUI 12’, Ramsy MELO 19’, Own Goal 20’)
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek