- Brazilians overcome Portugal in high-quality match
- Oman and United Arab Emirates chalk up victories for Asia
- Senegal put in brilliant performance against Belarus
REVIEW OF THE DAY – After defeating Portugal in one of the group stage’s most highly-anticipated encounters, Brazil became the third team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019. This was the South Americans’ seventh consecutive success versus the Portuguese in eight World Cup meetings.
Elsewhere in Group D, Oman collected their second-ever win in the history of the tournament at the expense of Nigeria, who are now eliminated.
Group C, meanwhile, is very much up for grabs, following the victories recorded by United Arab Emirates and Senegal. The Emiratis led the way by seeing off two-time champions Russia, while the Africans, propelled by an inspired four-goal performance from Mamour Diagne, disposed of Belarus.
Group C
Russia 1-4 United Arab Emirates 🎥
Belarus 2-7 Senegal 🎥
Group D
Nigeria 5-6 Oman 🎥
Brazil 9-7 Portugal 🎥
Moments of the day 📌
Best of the best
The incredible match between Brazil and Portugal did not just raise the interest of the fans: several tournament participants were also in attendance. In fact, players and officials from Paraguay, Switzerland, United States, Japan, Oman, Italy, Senegal, Belarus and Mexico were all present in the stands. Nobody wanted to miss the fixture that has occurred more times (eight) than any other in World Cup history.
First time for everything
With their surprising win over Russia, United Arab Emirates brought a long undesirable run to an end – up until Sunday, they had lost their six previous World Cup clashes against European nations. Indeed, one of the teams to get the better of them was Russia, at Dubai 2008.

350 not out
The number is as impressive as his achievements: 40-year-old goalkeeper Mao played in his 350th match for Brazil versus Portugal. In recognition of this feat, the five-time World Cup winner was presented with a goalkeeper jersey with that number on the back.
Shots of the day 📸
Photos of the day - 24 November (Paraguay 2019)
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Raoul Mendy of Senegal celebrates a goal
25 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Raoul Mendy of Senegal celebrates a goal during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group C match between Belarus and Senegal at Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Ihar Bryshtsel of Belarus struggles for the ball with Limamou Niang of Senegal
25 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Ihar Bryshtsel of Belarus struggles for the ball with Limamou Niang of Senegal during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group C match between Belarus and Senegal at Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Goalkeeper Mohamed Aljasmi of United Arab Emirates UAE save against Boris Nikonorov of Russia
24 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Goalkeeper Mohamed Aljasmi of United Arab Emirates UAE save against Boris Nikonorov of Russia during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group C match between Russia and United Arab Emirates at Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Ali Mohammad of United Arab Emirates celebrates his goal
24 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Ali Mohammad of United Arab Emirates UAE celebrates a goal with team mate Walid Mohammad during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group C match between Russia and United Arab Emirates at Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Eid al Farsi of Oman celebrates a goal with team mates Mandhar al Araimi
24 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Eid al Farsi of Oman celebrates a goal with team mates Mandhar al Araimi during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group D match between Nigeria and Oman at Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Goalkeeper Younis Al Owaisi of Oman celebrates the victory
24 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Goalkeeper Younis Al Owaisi of Oman celebrates the victory after the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group D match between Nigeria and Oman at Estadio Mundialista Los Pynandi on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Bruno Xavier of Brazil kisses the hand of a kid
25 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Bruno Xavier of Brazil kisses the hand of a kid before the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group D match between Brazil and Portugal at Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Rodrigo of Brazil celebrates a goal with team mate Bruno Xavier
25 Nov 2019
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - NOVEMBER 24: Rodrigo of Brazil celebrates a goal with team mate Bruno Xavier during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 group D match between Brazil and Portugal at Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" on November 24, 2019 in Asuncion, Paraguay. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
What’s next 🗓
Matchday 5 - 25 November
Group A
Japan-Switzerland (17:50, local time)
USA-Paraguay (21:00, local time)
Group B
Mexico-Italy (16:15, local time)
Tahiti-Uruguay (19:25, local time)
The situation in Group A is straightforward: the winners of the match between Japan and Switzerland, who have both already booked a slot in the quarter-finals, will finish top. In the other match between the already-eliminated pair of Paraguay and USA, only honour is at stake.
The situation in Group B is quite different, because all four teams can still qualify. Italy’s fate is in their own hands: if they win in regulation time, they will advance to the knockout stage. If they register any other result, they will have to wait and see. Their opponents, Mexico, meanwhile, have to win handily and hope that Uruguay do the same against Tahiti.
The Uruguayans could bag a place in the quarter-finals before even playing, but whatever happens, they will remain in the competition if they secure a victory in regulation time or extra-time. Tahiti are also masters of their own destiny – if the islanders can defeat Uruguay by three goals in regulation time, they will play at least one more game in Paraguay.