Podium
Champions: Brazil
Runners-up: Italy
Bronze-medallists: IR Iran

Brazil had wanted it and wanted it badly. That sixth star. The ‘hexa’, as they call it. Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo had seized a fifth for football back in 2002. Falcao and his fellow thrillers had repeated the feat for futsal 10 years later. Those teams had, however, remained marooned on that figure thereafter.

Bruno Xavier, Catarino, Datinha, Filipe, Mauricinho and Rodrigo had taken the Seleção of the sand to a fifth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ crown in 2017. The sextet were, after capsizing in Paraguay and Russia, back for a third shot at the sextuple in Dubai.

Global goliath after global goliath nevertheless stood in their way. The first storm was provided by a Portugal squad boasting Jordan and the miraculous Martins twins. Brazil seemed down and out at the death, only for Bobo and Mauricinho to trigger a herculean escape to victory. Brazil then blew away 2021 runners-up Japan with a scintillating show in the quarter-finals, and meshed mettle and magic to rally from two goals down and sink an outstanding Iran side.
It set up a Brazil-Italy final. Antonio Conte and Marco Materazzi had been roaring on the Azzurri relentlessly inside Dubai District Design Stadium. On the eve of the game, the Brazil players heard whispers a national god would be turning cheer them on. Romario had helped Brazil overcome Italy in the USA 1994 final, and electrified in the maiden FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 11 years later.

“At first you don’t believe it, but then you begin getting your hopes up,” explained Catarino. “I only fully believed it when I saw him, Romario, with my own eyes. It was a magical feeling, really inspiring. It was a gift from God.”

The man who took divine inspiration was the one crowned the sport’s Best Men’s Player days before the tournament kicked off. Rodrigo hit a hat-trick in a thrilling 6-4 victory in one of the greatest performances ever witnessed in the fixture.

“Today I had a little bit of a Romario performance!” said the 30-year-old. “We’ve made history. The whole of Brazil has been talking about the ‘hexa’ for so long. Now our federation will have that nice problem: where to put the sixth star on the shirt!”

Other victors
Marco Octavio and his men were far from the only winners. Italy, with their patented gladiator spirit, recovered two-goal deficits to progress from both the quarter- and semi-finals, before trading punches with Brazil in an unforgettable final. Iran were every bit as systematic and stylish as the experts foresaw. Belarus were the revelations of UAE 2024 Dubai, while United Arab Emirates also reached the knockout phase for the first time ever.

Elsewhere, Japan got up off the nine count to knock out Senegal, Tahiti bicycle kicked their way out of a shark-infested pool, Egypt registered their first victory in their maiden participation, and Oman gave superpowers severe examinations before signing off with a win.

Arguably the most exhilarating FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup ever was also illuminated by goals galore by goalkeepers, and the remarkable reflexes of Leandro Casapieri and Humaid Jamal sparking the first game without one in history.

The stars
adidas Golden Ball: Josep Jr
adidas Silver Ball: Mauricinho
adidas Bronze Ball: Ihar Bryshtsel
adidas Golden Glove: Bobo

Josep Jr, poetic and productive, was UAE 2024 Dubai’s performer nonpareil. Leandro Casapieri, Luca Bertacca and Marco Giordani also excelled for Italy. Iran’s success was also indebted to the collective, although rotating goalkeepers Hamid Behzadpour and Seyed Mirjalili were particularly outstanding with their hands and their feet. Ihar Bryshtsel was utterly unplayable, entering the elite bracket of marksmen to have reached double figures in one edition, and was ably assisted by netminder Mikhail Avgustov.

Brazil’s constellation of stars shimmered. Alisson, Bobo, Bruno Xavier, Catarino, Edson Hulk, Filipe, Mauricinho and Rodrigo performed palatially, while newcomer Brendo made an indispensable impact.

Yusuke Kawai, Ozu Moreira and Takaaki Oba of Japan, Jordan and Leo Martins of Portugal, Heimanu Taiarui of Tahiti, and Jamal of United Arab Emirates were excellent for the quarter-final departees, and though their nations fell at the first hurdle, Oman’s Khalid Al Oraimi, Alessandro Canale of USA, Spain’s Chiky, and Argentina pair Lucas Medero and Lucas Ponzetti all dazzled.