FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup


The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is an international beach soccer competition contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA, the sport's global governing body.
The tournament was established in 1995 as the Beach Soccer World Championship, taking place every year for the next decade under the supervision of Beach Soccer Worldwide and its predecessors. Due to the sport's rapid growth, FIFA took an interest in the sport, and as the main tournament in world beach soccer, it joined hands with BSWW in 2005 to take over the organization of the competition, re-branding it as an official FIFA tournament. Since 2009, the tournament has taken place every two years to allow continental tournaments to flourish without the burden of the World Cup qualifiers crowding the schedule every 12 months. The growing global popularity of beach soccer resulted in FIFA's decision to move the stage of the World Cup from its native home in Brazil to other parts of the globe to capitalise on and continue to stimulate global interest. The first edition held outside Brazil was in 2008 in Marseille, France.
The current tournament format lasts over approximately 10 days and involves 16 teams initially competing in four groups of four teams. The group winners and runners-up advance to a series of knock-out stages until the champion is crowned. The losing semi-finalists play each other in a play-off match to determine the third and fourth-placed teams.
The most recent edition in 2019 was held in Asunción, Paraguay, and crowned Portugal as champions for the second time – after defeating Italy 4–6 in the final.

History

Foundation

The first Beach Soccer World Cup was held in Brazil, in 1995, organised by the precursors to the modern-day founders of the standardised rules, Beach Soccer Worldwide, held under the title Beach Soccer World Championship. Eight teams were selected to take part, without going through a qualification process. However Brazil, the hosts, dominated and easily won the cup without losing a game. The tournament was successful and BSWW announced that the competition would take place every year.

Growth worldwide

By 1997, more teams had already stated their interest in participating and therefore BSWW extended their selection to 10 teams for 1998. Brazil continued to dominate, despite this change. Immediately, BSWW extended to 12 teams for 1999, spreading their selection across five continents, introducing more new teams to the tournament.
However, with all these changes it still took until the 2001 World Cup for Brazil to lose the title after winning the competition six years on the run since the establishment. It was Portugal who won the tournament, with Brazil finishing in a disappointing fourth place.
With this change of champions, more countries thought there was a chance for themselves to win the tournament and this sparked more interest worldwide. Not surprisingly, Brazil reclaimed their title in 2002, when BSWW reduced the number of contestants back to eight.
The last Beach Soccer World Championship to be organised purely by BSWW was in 2004 when twelve teams played, seven from Europe.

FIFA Era

In 2005, FIFA paired up with BSWW to co-organise the World Cup, although FIFA seem to have the most control. They kept the tradition of holding the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro and continued to allow 12 teams to participate, following on from the 2004 competition. It was Eric Cantona's France that won the competition, after beating Portugal on penalties in the final.
The tournament was deemed a major success and therefore FIFA took advantage. For the 2006 competition and beyond, FIFA decided to standardise the participants to 16 countries. It was then that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifiers were also established, that would take place throughout the year. Again this decision was a successful one and more countries became interested in a now standard FIFA competition.

Extending the World Cup

By the end of the 2007 World Cup, the tournament had become very popular throughout the world, with the FIFA board taking over the competition, driving more countries to recognize beach soccer as a major sport. Since the World Cup had become a success worldwide, FIFA decided to have a change of venue. It was voted, to extend the sport's popularity, the 2008 World Cup would take place in Marseille, France, and the 2009 World Cup would take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. These tournaments would be the first to take place outside Brazil.
The 2008 competition was once again a major success, despite being held in a different country. This was the first time that Brazil would have to qualify for the tournament, since they weren't the hosts. However Brazil won the qualifiers and the World Cup in July.
The 2009 World Cup in Dubai was an even bigger success, as the second competition outside Brazil and the Beach Soccer World Cup's 15th birthday, Brazil continued their dominance.

Two year basis

Just before the final of the 2009 World Cup, FIFA announced that a new format would see the World Cup now take place every two years, starting from the 2011 World Cup. FIFA justified the decision by stating that they wanted Confederations to have more time to develop the sport, therefore allowing a year in between World Cups for Confederations to organise their own local tournaments. This was a mutual decision between Confederations and FIFA. In March 2010 FIFA confirmed that the 2011 World Cup would take place in Italy and the 2013 World Cup would take place in Tahiti.

FIFA Champions Badge

In 2013, FIFA extended the FIFA Champions Badge to the winners of the competition, where it was first won by Russia.

Qualification

Pre-2006

From 1995 until 2005 there was no standard qualification system for nations to go through to earn a place at the World Cup finals. The process in which teams gained entry into the finals was inconsistent from one year to the next throughout the confederations, often down to a simple invite to participate in the finals from BSWW, or potentially qualification by reaching the latter stages in a premier regional tournament with no prior ties with the World Cup, or perhaps by performing well in the previous World Cup.
During this period, nations from Africa, Asia and sometimes North America were the usual recipients of invitations, due to a lack of regional tournaments for BSWW to determine who was best in said region and worthy to play in the finals. Typically, European nations qualified by doing well in the Euro Beach Soccer League and South American nations in the Americas' League, sometimes jointly with North American nations who also qualified along with them in such circumstances. It was still common for other 'wild-card' European and South American nations to receive invites despite not performing well continentally. However, during the early years of the championships, invitation was the common form of eligibility for all nations.

2006 onwards

Following the success of the inaugural FIFA tournament in 2005, the number of teams at the finals was increased by FIFA to a record 16 and so the governing body along with BSWW met with individual confederations to set up a standard qualifying process for each world cup, by establishing regional championships for each continent. The winners of these championships would be crowned the best team in the region, promoting regional competitiveness, and most importantly act as a consistent method of qualification to the World Cup for the best teams of each confederation. This would also help increase the sport's awareness across all corners of the globe and make sure all confederations were represented at the finals at every following World Cup, unlike in the past.
Besides Europe, who continued to use the Euro Beach Soccer League as the method of World Cup qualification until 2008, all other confederations hosted their first championships in 2006 in view of the finals later that year.

Attendance

The allocation of World Cup spots and hence how many teams qualify from their regional championship to the World Cup was decided by FIFA in 2006 as follows:
As part of the Euro Beach Soccer League
The host country's confederation loses one qualification spot. I.e. since the 2015 World Cup was held in Portugal, they automatically qualified taking up one of the five European spots. Therefore, in the 2015 UEFA qualifiers, only four teams qualified from the championships to join the hosts making the total of five European nations.
As shown in the table, attendance of nations in qualification tournaments generally continues to rise year on year; the total global number of participants has nearly doubled since 2006.
Despite being the premier tournament in most regions, since the primary objective is to qualify to the World Cup, on a rare occasion teams have not participated due to qualifying to the finals automatically as hosts such as Brazil deferring from the 2007 CONMBEBOL Beach Soccer Championship and Tahiti in the 2013 OFC Beach Soccer Championship.

Results

Beach Soccer World Championship

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

Results by team

Brazil are by far the most successful nation, with 14 titles. However their hold on the title has become less apparent since the tournament came under the control of FIFA and moved outside of Rio. They are followed by Portugal with three wins, Russia with two, and France with one title. France won the first FIFA-sanctioned tournament in 2005. Brazil and Portugal are the only teams to win the world championship before and after FIFA started sanctioning the sport.
Overall 18 of the 46 nations who have ever competed have made a top four finish. Brazil remained the only nation to finish in the final four every championship until 2015 when they finished in fifth place. Of those 18 nations, only 7 have made a top four finish before and after FIFA started sanctioning the World Cup.
NationTitlesRunners-upThird placeFourth place
14 1 2 1
3 3 5 1
2 2
1 2 1 2
3 4 1
3 1 1
2 1 4
2 1
1 1 1
1 2
1
1
1 1
1
1
3
1
1

;Key:

Results by confederation

Tournament appearances

Since the tournament's establishment in 1995, as of the 2019 World Cup, 46 countries have participated over the 20 competitions. However, only one country has participated in all World Cups, which is Brazil. European teams have dominated in appearances by continent, since 15 of the 46 countries have been from Europe, at least double than that of any other.
Before qualification began, many of the same nations were invited back year on year. This meant that once qualification was introduced in 2006, giving all nations in that confederation a chance to earn a berth at the finals, there was an initial influx of new nations making their debut, including African teams whose continent had only been represented by one nation before and Oceanian countries who had never had their continent been represented previously.
Only 8 of the 46 countries have failed to appear in a FIFA controlled World Cup. Peru have appeared in the most competitions without any one of those being under FIFA's control. Meanwhile, Iran and Senegal have appeared in the most FIFA sanctioned tournaments without having ever appeared in the old World Championships before 2005.
Apps.CountryFirstLastBest result
2019952019Champions
1819952019Runners-up
1719972019Champions
1619952015Third place
1619952019Runners-up
1419982015Runners-up
1419972019Fourth place
1419952019Runners-up
1219972008Champions
819962019Champions
720062017Third place
720072019QFs
620072019Runners-up
620072019Round 1
620062019QFs
620042019Runners-up
519982004Runners-up
520062013Round 1
520112019Runners-up
419952004Round 1
420082013Fourth place
420132019QFs
319962006QFs
320002011QFs
320052013QFs
320112019Round 1

;Key:
Italics indicates pre-2005, non-FIFA World Championships

Apps. – Appearances

QFs – Quarter finals

All-time tables

As of 2019
;Key
;Notes:

Overall table (1995 to present)

This table shows the overall statistics of all 20 World Cups that have occurred since 1995, combining the results of both the original Beach Soccer World Championships era and the current FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup era.
PosTeamAppsPldWW+WPLGFGADifPtsAv. Pts
12010595037780289+491288
21784524424451286+165168
31667283432267261+694
41456291026219205+1489
51868252437278309–3179
6838242012176126+5076
71250230423212221–973
81657230133167211–4470
91447180029158215–5754
101450151232172241–6949
1152412129100101–140
12624111111115116–136
13725101212126101+2534
14521110098178+333
157266111895115–2021
166205121288119–3119
17622502155390–3717
1841350085956+315
19416410114981–3214
20618401135771–1413
215154001155105–5012
2231030163463–2910
233930063228+49
241520032031–116
253920072742–156
262710152138–174
272710151634–184
281310021013–33
291310021016–63
30131002714–73
311410031422–83
322610052637–113
333810072233–113
342610052442–183
354910082256–343
362600151235–231
372600151342–291
3812000215–400
39130003712–500
4012000228–600
41120002413–900
42130003414–1000
43120002518–1300
44130003622–1600
45260006831–2300
46240004629–2300

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup era (2005 onward)

This table shows the overall statistics of all 10 World Cups that have occurred since 2005, of the current FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup era only.
PosTeamAppsPldWW+WPLGFGADifPtsAv. Pts
1105547035358166+192144
2949293413274167+10797
3735232010169116+5373
472915001411097+1345
5832132314150126+2442
6628122113112106+641
752412129100101–140
88271301138589–440
9421120369767+3039
101036121122132163–3139
11725101212126101+2534
125211011910699+733
137266111895115–2021
146205121288119–3119
15622502155390–3717
1641350085956+315
17416410114981–3214
18618401135771–1413
195154001155105–5012
203930063228+49
21514300114677–319
223920072742–156
231410121226–144
242710152138–174
251310021013–33
26131002714–73
272610052637–113
282610052442–183
29130012612–61
302600151235–231
31130003712–500
3212000228–600
33130003817–900
34130003414–1000
35120002313–1000
36120002415–1100
37130003622–1600
38260006831–2300

Beach Soccer World Championships era (1995–2004)

This table shows the overall statistics of all 10 World Cups that occurred between 1995 and 2004, of the now defunct Beach Soccer World Championships era only.
PosTeamAppsPldWW+WPLGFGADifPtsAv. Pts
1105048002422123+299144
2835231011177119+5871
31039161319155155053
4933150018112138–2645
5727141012109108+144
61036120123128183–5537
7829110117115154–3934
8521110098178+333
983010002082122–4030
10414301104078–3810
111520032031–116
122620042237–156
131510131321–84
142510041416–23
15131002710–33
161310021016–63
171410031422–83
18131002917–83
194910082256–343
2012000215–400
21120002413–900
22120002214–1200
23120002518–1300
24130003730–2300

Awards (FIFA era)

The following documents the winners of the awards presented during the FIFA era of the World Cup. During the Beach Soccer World Championships era, only three awards were presented – to the top scorer, best player and best goalkeeper.
When FIFA acquired the tournament in 2005, the awards were expanded to honour the top three players in each of the existing categories as well as recognition to the team with the most fair play points as standard in other FIFA competitions. Overall, eight awards are now presented.

Golden Ball

The adidas Golden Ball award is awarded to the player who plays the most outstanding football during the tournament. It is selected by the media poll.
World CupGolden BallSilver BallBronze BallRef
2005 Brazil Madjer Neném Amarelle
2006 Brazil Madjer Benjamin Bruno
2007 Brazil Buru Madjer Morgan Plata
2008 France Amarelle Benjamin Belchior
2009 United Arab Emirates Dejan Stankovic Madjer Benjamin
2011 Italy Ilya Leonov André Frank Velasquez
2013 Tahiti Bruno Xavier Ozu Moreira Raimana Li Fung Kuee
2015 Portugal Heimanu Taiarui Alan Madjer
2017 Bahamas Mohammad Ahmadzadeh Mauricinho Datinha
2019 Paraguay Ozu Moreira Jordan Santos Bê Martins

Golden Shoe

The adidas Golden Shoe is awarded to the topscorer of the tournament. If more than one players are equal by same goals, the players will be selected based by the most assists during the tournament.
World CupGolden ShoeGoalsSilver ShoeGoalsBronze ShoeGoalsRef
2005 Brazil Madjer12 Neném9 Anthony Mendy8
2006 Brazil Madjer21 Benjamin12 Bruno10
2007 Brazil Buru10 Morgan Plata9 Bruno8
2008 France Madjer13 Amarelle11 Belchior10
2009 United Arab Emirates Dejan Stankovic16 Madjer11 Buru10
2011 Italy André14 Madjer12 Frank Velásquez9
2013 Tahiti Dmitry Shishin11 Bruno Xavier10 Agustín Ruiz7
2015 Portugal Pedro Morán8 Madjer8 Noël Ott8
2017 Bahamas Gabriele Gori17 Rodrigo9 Mohammad Ahmadzadeh9
2019 Paraguay Gabriele Gori16 Emmanuele Zurlo10 Fedor Zemskov10

Golden Glove

The Golden Glove Award is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
World CupGolden GloveRef
2008 France Roberto Valeiro
2009 United Arab Emirates Mão
2011 Italy Andrey Bukhlitskiy
2013 Tahiti Dona
2015 Portugal Jonathan Torohia
2017 Bahamas Peyman Hosseini
2019 Paraguay Elinton Andrade

FIFA Fair Play Award

FIFA Fair Play Award is given to the team who has the best fair play record during the tournament with the criteria set by FIFA Fair Play Committee.
TournamentFIFA Fair Play AwardRef
2005 Brazil
2006 Brazil
2007 Brazil
2008 France
2009 United Arab Emirates
2011 Italy
2013 Tahiti
2015 Portugal
2017 Bahamas
2019 Paraguay

Top goalscorers

As of 2019
From the data available, the tables below document the all-time top goalscorers.

Overall (1995–present)

The following table shows the all-time top 30 goalscorers.

FIFA era (2005–present)

The following table shows the top 20 goalscorers of the FIFA era.
RankPlayerTeamGoals
1Madjer88
2Gabriele Gori41
3Bruno40
4Belchior39
5Alan38
5André38
7Dejan Stanković37
8Benjamin35
9Buru34
10Dmitry Shishin33
11Paolo Palmacci28
12Amarelle27
12Ricardo Martinez27
14Mohammad Ahmadzadeh26
15Pape Jean Koukpaki23
16Jérémy Basquaise21
16Sidney21
16Pedro Morán21
19Roberto Pasquali20
19Noël Ott20

World Championships era (1995–2004)

The following table shows the top 20 goalscorers of the World Championships era.
RankPlayerTeamGoals
1Júnior71
2Neném55
3Júnior Negão54
4Madjer52
5Jorginho43
6Alan37
7Venancio Ramos34
8Amarelle32
9Benjamin30
9Alessandro Altobelli30
11Cláudio Adão28
12Juninho25
12Edinho25
14Zico23
15Hernâni22
15Magal22
17Gabriel Silvera20
18Gustavo Matosas18
19Carlos Russo17
19Jorge Olaechea17
19Zak Ibsen17
19Nico17

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Attendance figures

Note that attendance records are not available between 1995 and 2002.