FIFA Competitions
- outline
- report
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Dubai 2009
- Date
- 16 - 22 November 2009
- Host Country
- United Arab Emirates
Starting this year, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be held in alternate years. Traditionally hosted in the home of beach soccer, Brazil, the event was held elsewhere for the second year in a row, following last year's successful staging in France. The 2009 edition marked the fifth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, and the host country honor went to UAE. A total of 16 national teams, including host country UAE, qualified from the preliminary competitions held in their respective confederation. A total of 32 matches, 24 group-stage matches and 8 final-stage matches, were played during the 7-day final competition from November 16 to 22 which took place at Jumeirah Beach in Dubai.
Advancing to the final were two teams from the same group - champion of three consecutive tournaments, Brazil, and Switzerland. Powerhouse Brazil maintained their lead and dominated the game, capturing their fourth consecutive title with a 10-5 victory.
The Japanese side, led by Head Coach Louis Ramos, won three consecutive matches in the group league but was crushed by Portugal in the quarterfinals.
The tournament recorded 99,000 spectators, of which 6,000 came to the final, with an per match average of approximately 3,122. Close to 200 countries and territories televised the matches. This increasing interest is proof that beach soccer is quickly gaining status as a professional sport.
