The planet’s freshly-crowned Best Player, and another five previous winners of the annual award, make their grand entrances on a star-stacked Matchday 2 of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™. Global goliaths Brazil, Japan and Portugal will expect to thrill and win as Oman, Mexico and tournament debutants Colombia plot giant-slayings. Senegal and Belarus, meanwhile, will cross swords in one of the most fascinating contests of the group stage.

The planet’s freshly-crowned Best Player, and another five previous winners of the annual award, make their grand entrances on a star-stacked Matchday 2 of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™. Global goliaths Brazil, Japan and Portugal will expect to thrill and win as Oman, Mexico and tournament debutants Colombia plot giant-slayings. Senegal and Belarus, meanwhile, will cross swords in one of the most fascinating contests of the group stage.

Colombia v Japan
Kick-off times
۰۶:۳۰ in Bogota
۱۵:۳۰ in Dubai
۲۰:۳۰ in Tokyo

Colombia will make their tournament debut as Japan pip Brazil to become the first nation to play in 12 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. Can the newcomers spring a surprise, or will the 2021 runners-up prove too powerful?

Players to watch
Eduardo Lopez
The man whose class, heart and drive pushed Colombia to Dubai is now out to test the resolve of the Samurai Blue.

Ozu Moreira
The 38-year-old was on Monday named in the Best Five for a record-extending eighth year. Ozu was crowned the Best Player on the planet in 2021 and is still an immense contributor.

Trivia
Colombia coach Santiago Alzate, who is just 30, is staggeringly younger than 10 of United Arab Emirates’ ۱۲ players!
In 2010 Brazil called up a defender named Oscar. He politely turned them down because he’d “already fallen in love with Japan”. Oscar had to change his name, spend five years living in Japan, and learn fluent Japanese before he could represent the Samurai Blue, all of which the man now known as Ozu Moreira did.

Quotes
“Japan are a team we’ve watched a lot. They’re a real confidence team. If you let them take the lead they’ll rattle four or five goals past you in no time. But if we can stay in the game then we can match them and even take control at times. We know that it’s five versus five. They might be more worldly and experienced, but maybe on the pitch we’ve got an equal chance.”
Eduardo Lopez, Colombia player

“When we lost in the 2021 final, I was really frustrated – it even brought me to tears. It still rankles. There’s a sense of regret and a feeling I could have done more. I’d like to try and go one step further this time around.”
Takaaki Oba

Portugal v Mexico
Kick-off times
۰۷:۰۰ in Mexico City
۱۳:۰۰ in Lisbon
۱۷:۰۰ in Dubai

Players to watch
Be Martins
The Portugal No10 is an indecipherable genius. The Best Men’s Player for 2022 makes and takes goals that only few can imagine pulling off.

Cristopher Castillo
Strong and skilful, the bicycle kick specialist had a superb 2023 and was nominated for the Best Men’s Player award.

Trivia
Be and Leo Martins went hungry while living in Spain in an attempt to make it as 11-a-side footballers. Then they started playing for a club whose coach was a butcher and paid them for every victory with meat!

Mexico coach Francisco Cati represented the nation at the FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in 2012.

Quotes
“I feel we’re on the verge of something special. Our national team – almost all our players – have won the World Cup, but we’re still young. I think we’re very well prepared to win this world title. We know there will be moments when our backs will be against the wall, when we’ll have to dig deep, but we have players who have done this time and time again. We believe in ourselves.”
Jordan, Portugal player

“Portugal is our first game and the most important one. We’re working towards that one and on doing the best we can. Their best attribute is their ability to build play from deep. We’re working on that aspect so as to limit the space they have.”
Enoch Lopez

Senegal v Belarus
Kick-off times
۱۵:۳۰ in Dakar
۱۸:۳۰ in Minsk
۱۹:۳۰ in Dubai

One of the most compelling matches of the group stage pits two dark horses for the crown against one another. Senegal reached the semi-finals in 2021, while Belarus have toppled European heavyweights to make it to three FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups running.

Players to watch
Raoul Mendy
A frightening, physical forward, he won the adidas Bronze Ball at Russia 2021.

Ihar Bryshtel
One of the most complete players on the planet, the Belarus No8 possesses a thunderous shot.

Trivia
Senegal coach Mamadou Diallo represented the country at 11-a-side between 1994 and 2000. He was named in the MLS Best XI in 2000 alongside Tony Meola, Carlos Valderrama and Hristo Stoichkov.
Belarus forward Anatoliy Ryabko, at 1.97 metres, is the tallest player at UAE 2024 Dubai. Senegal defender Papa Ndoye is just two centimetres shorter.
“That semi-final spot [in 2021] whetted our appetite, so we want to go further this year. We won’t be underestimating anyone, but we know our worth and that we’re capable of doing great things and making history in our sport.”
Mamadou Diallo, Senegal coach

“Senegal are a very complicated team to play against. They’re physical, maintain a high tempo throughout and have players with great finishing ability. Iran and Senegal, as well as Brazil, could easily reach the final and win it.”
Nico, Belarus coach

Brazil v Oman
Kick-off times
۱۴:۰۰ in Brasilia
۲۱:۰۰ in Dubai
۲۱:۰۰ in Muscat

Is this the best Brazil side since 2006? We’re about to find out. They boast superstars Bruno Xavier, Catarino, Filipe, Edson Hulk and Rodrigo. One bright omen for Oman is that they stunned Senegal, who went on to beat Brazil and reach the semi-finals, at the last global finals.

Players to watch
Rodrigo
Fresh from being named the sport’s top performer, the Carioca is an exceptional player able to execute bicycle kicks from up in the clouds.

Al Yaqdhan Al Hindasi
The Omani was on fire in 2023. He’ll need to be ablaze to give the underdogs a shot at a seismic upset in Dubai.

Trivia
Nelly, one of the biggest-selling hip-hop artists in history, starting following Catarino on social media after the Brazilian scored a mind-blowing goal for Catania.
Musallam Al Araimi, 19, is one of only two teenagers at the competition.

Quotes
“People say, ‘Brazil will beat Mexico, Brazil will beat Oman’, but it’s not easy. They’re strong teams and what people have to understand is that every team that plays against Brazil will give everything they have until the final whistle. Playing against Brazil in the World Cup is like a final. For some players it will be the biggest game of their lives, so they’re going to give that something extra.”
Catarino, Brazil player

“We believe in ourselves and we’re going to give it our all. We’ll also have a lot of support from the fans because Dubai is very close to Oman. Our goal is to make it past the group stage for the very first time.”
Al Yaqdhan