February 15 – Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Seychelles have been announced by FIFA as the three countries bidding to host the 2023 Beach Soccer World Cup.
Neither Bahrain nor Seychelles have staged the competition in the past. The UAE hosted the tournament in 2009 when Dubai served as host city and Brazilian were crowned champions with a 10-5 victory against Switzerland in the final. Abu Dhabi recently staged the Club World Cup, stepping in as host after Japan’s withdrawal because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
FIFA said that a decision on the successful bid will be made later this year. National federations had until 29 October 2021 to submit their declaration of interest with five (Colombia and Thailand were the other two) initially expressing interest.
Since 2005, the world federation has organised the Beach Soccer World Cup on an annual basis but from 2009 onwards it has been a biennial event.
Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro hosted the first three editions before FIFA took the competition around the world with Tahiti in 2015 and The Bahamas in 2017 among the hosts.
Last summer, Russia stage the 16-team event in Moscow. The hosts, participating in the finals as Team RFU because of a ban from international sporting competitions over a doping scandal, won a third title on the sand defeating Japan 5-2 in the final. They had also won the Beach Soccer World Cup in both 2011 and 2013.
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