Sport | Football

History of the game: Beach soccer

All you need to know about beach soccer

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 November 16, 2009
  • Gulf News

Beach soccer has been played recreationally worldwide for many years and in many different formats.

However, it wasn't until 1992 that the "Laws of the Game" were envisioned and a pilot event staged in Los Angeles.

In the summer of 1993, the first professional beach soccer competition was organised at Miami Beach, with teams from the US, Brazil, Argentina and Italy taking part in what would turn out to be an historic event.

This is only the fifth year that the event has been held under the auspices of football's world governing body, Fifa.

The Beach Soccer World Championship first kicked off in April 1994 and it was only in 2004 that Beach Soccer Worldwide aligned itself with Fifa to create Fifa Beach Soccer SL to organise the first-ever World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

Although Brazil has been the dominating force after emerging victorious in nine of the 10 World Championship finals, the sport took a demonstrative leap forward in global profile after Eric Cantona led France to their maiden Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in 2005, defeating Portugal in the final. Brazil ended third after drubbing Japan 11-2.

Brazil then went on to stamp their class on this competition winning the next three world crowns at the expense of Uruguay (2006), Mexico (2007) and Italy (2008).

This is only the second time that the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup is being held outside of Brazil - the other location was Marseille last year.

This is the first time ever that this event is being held in Asia.

All relevant information about the event and tickets can be obtained from www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup

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