Everything is now ready for the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup Dubai. Official training day tomorrow
The stadium is complete, the teams are here and Dubai is waiting to stage what promises to be another spectacular Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup.
Last operations were finalized over the weekend, and now the stadium is ready to host the training sessions on Monday and the competition as of Tuesday, 1st of November.
The to-class, state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of over 3500 spectators, together with a VIP tribune. At the entrance visitors will have the opportunity to amuse themselves before the games begin at the Fan Zone, with many different activities for all members of the family.
Each year the competition attains a new level and, with eight of the world’s best sides again jetting in to compete for the title, the sixth edition of the tournament is set to wow crowds once more at the stunning Dubai International Marine Club.
Executive Vice-President of Beach Soccer Worldwide, Joan Cusco, said: “The whole sport is truly excited at the prospect of returning to Dubai – one of beach soccer’s real heartlands – due to the excellent facilities on offer and the warm welcome we receive.
“The last few years have seen Dubai become entwined with beach soccer, through events such as the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup, and we are convinced that relationship will be further strengthened this year.”
UAE will likely attract much of the attention when they take to the sand, with the hosts grouped alongside Tahiti, Brazil and Poland in Pool A.
The home side’s best efforts in this competition were third-place finishes in 2012 and 2013 and Guga’s men will need to deal with the likes of FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup runners-up Tahiti and 4-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil to improve on that this year.
Also in the group are Poland, currently full of confidence after a stunning display that saw them win the recent European FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifier in Jesolo.
In Group B, many will tip three-time champions Russia to defend their 2015 title, with the world’s second-ranked side going up against USA, Egypt and Iran.
Russia will be out to make amends for their qualification failure in Jesolo, while the remaining sides in the pool all have continental qualifiers to prepare for in the coming months.
USA have not been in competitive action since the Mundialito in July, while Egypt and Iran contested the third-place play-off last year – the men from Tehran prevailing on penalties.
The Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup runs from November 1st to November 5th at Dubai International Marine Club. Stadium admission is free of charge.
