- FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to take place from 19 to 29 August 2021 in Moscow
- Where did beach soccer start?
- From Brazil to Europe via the USA
At some time or another, who has not attempted to have a kickabout on the beach, or at least watch other people do so? It is significantly different to playing on a level surface, which makes attempting to control a ball bobbling across the sand all the more unpredictable.
Yet even the most inexperienced player soon turns into Messi or Ronaldo in executing a bare-footed overhead kick, secure in the knowledge that the sand will soften their landing.
But where did beach soccer begin? Fans in the know might already be aware of terms such as Episkyros, Harpastum and Popo, which all describe what is often referred to as “mankind’s most important invention”: the ball. Or to be more exact, the football. People have been kicking things around since the beginning of time, perhaps using a stone, a bone or something similar even back in the Stone Age. The Chinese would fill animal skins with hair or feathers to use as a ball 3,000 years ago to play a game called Tsu chu, a precursor to modern football.
The origins of beach soccer do not go back anywhere near as far as that. According to various sources, the sport is believed to have been started by European sailors in the coastal regions of Brazil at the end of the 19th century when they played football on the sand during visits ashore. It was there that the first official beach soccer tournaments were held in 1957.
From the Copacabana via the USA to the rest of the world
It would be almost another 50 years before the first unofficial World Cup took place in 1995, representing a major milestone. Before that, in the early 1990s, Giancarlo Signorini spearheaded the founding of the Beach Soccer Company, which developed the concept for the events and also created the Pro Beach Soccer Series.
There followed a successful trial tournament at the Will Rogers Beach in Los Angeles, which left spectators enraptured. In 1993 an international competition was held in Miami, Florida, attracting 6,000 fans and also delighting American television audiences.
The beach soccer tide could no longer be held back. The Beach Soccer World Cup played its part and spread enthusiasm for the sport to Europe, where the European Pro Beach Soccer League was established. Two years later the game was being played in France, England, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Malaysia and Argentina.
The Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) federation, which was created from the Beach Soccer Company and Octagon Koch Tavares, is responsible for organising World Cups and European beach soccer tournaments. Recognised by FIFA, BSWW now stages events in more than 60 countries.
In 2005 FIFA finally incorporated beach soccer into the football family and held the inaugural FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ on the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. A France team featuring Eric Cantona beat Portugal in the final, while title favourites and tournaments hosts Brazil were eliminated in the semi-finals.
The following year, 16 teams took part in the finals for the first time, with Brazil lifting their first trophy. A Seleção triumphed at the next three tournaments in a row, before Russia were crowned champions in Italy in 2011 and in Tahiti in 2013. Portugal are the current holders after tasting glory in both 2015 and in Paraguay in 2019, while Brazil are the record champions with five titles, the most recent of which arrived in 2017.
The history of Beach Soccer in images
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Dubai 2009: Swiss so near
27 Jul 2016
Inspired by the exploits of their young compatriots in winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009, Beach Soccer World Cup debutants Switzerland stormed through to the final, where they came up short in their bid to end Brazil’s domination. Providing the sharpest of cutting edges for the Swiss was Dejan Stankovic, whose 16-goal haul earned him the adidas Golden Ball and adidas Golden Scorer awards. The most stunning example of his considerable talent came when he conjured up two bicycle-kicks in a matter of seconds against Russia in the quarter-finals. When the first came back off a post, a team-mate played the rebound back towards the waiting Stankovic, who made no mistake with his second attempt.
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Dubai 2009: Brazilian class
27 Jul 2016
“We have a gift. And in Brazil there are a lot of talented young players who can pull on the Seleçao shirt and do just as good a job. We’ve achieved this success, this fourth title – which is reward for a lot of hard work – thanks to the togetherness, respect and love that there is in this dressing room.” Brazil captain Benjamin, the oldest of all the players on duty in Dubai, shares his thoughts with FIFA.com after the tournament.
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Ravenna 2011: El Salvador spring a surprise
27 Jul 2016
For 11 whole days El Salvador captivated everyone who saw them. Winless in their previous appearances in the competitions, the Central Americans, led by Frank Velasquez, finally found some form to send the likes of Argentina and hosts Italy out on their run to the semis. Beaten there by eventual champions Russia, El Salvador went down to an honourable 3-2 defeat to Portugal in the match for third place.
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Ravenna 2011: Russia take over
27 Jul 2016
There was no arguing with the result. Russia scored 12 and Brazil eight as the Italian city of Ravenna witnessed a changing of the guard, with the Brazilians relinquishing their crown after four consecutive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup wins. Unbeaten in six years and 30 matches, the Verdeamarela machine was finally brought to a halt by a superbly drilled Russia team.
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Tahiti 2013: Russia do it again
27 Jul 2016
Russia had no difficulty in retaining their title, cruising to a 5-1 win over Spain in the final, while their leading marksman Dmitrii Shishin also made off with individual honours, winning the adidas Golden Scorer award. Tied on ten goals with Brazil’s Bruno Xavier in the battle for the accolade, Shishin made sure it was his by firing home his side’s fifth in the closing seconds of the final.
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Tahiti 2013: Joy for hosts
27 Jul 2016
Much to the delight of the home fans, there was more than just high-quality beach soccer on view in Tahiti. They also witnessed a historic feat by their side, who became the only current OFC team to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA competition.
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Portugal 2015: Patient Portugal rewarded
27 Jul 2016
Ever presents in the competition and always ranked among the favourites to win it, Portugal finally did just that after ten long years of trying, making the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup trophy theirs after a hard-fought win on home sand over the upwardly mobile Tahiti.
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Portugal 2015: This one’s for the fans
27 Jul 2016
“The Portuguese fans are fantastic and they’ve proved that again at this World Cup,” said 40-year-old Portugal star Alan, dedicating his side’s long-awaited triumph to their supporters. “They came here early in the morning to get their seats in the stadium and they spent hours and hours queuing up to cheer us on. Fortunately, everything worked out well. This title is for them more than it is for us.”
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Following the unveiling of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021 logo on Saturday, the countdown to the upcoming showpiece next year has begun. Who will emerge victorious in Moscow in August 2021? Host nation Russia? Record champions Brazil? Or a different team altogether? Only time will tell!