USA to Face Football Union of Russia, Japan and Paraguay at 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia
U.S. Starts Tournament on Aug. 19 Against Host Football Union of Russia in Moscow
CHICAGO (July 8, 2021)—The U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team will face the Football Union of Russia, Japan and Paraguay in Group A at the upcoming 20212 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which will take place Aug. 19-29 in Moscow, Russia. The final draw for the competition took place today at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
The USA is making its sixth appearance at the Beach Soccer World Cup and has qualified for consecutive tournaments for the first time since the 2006 and 2007 editions. The U.S. kicks off the Beach Soccer World Cup on Thursday, Aug. 19 vs. host Football Union of Russia, takes on Japan on Saturday, Aug. 23 and finishes the group stage on Monday, Aug. 23 vs. Paraguay. All tournament matches will be played in Moscow at the Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium.
In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and a Dec. 2020 decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Football Union of Russia will participate as neutral athletes of its national sports federation. It’s the second-straight Beach Soccer World Cup that the USA will face the tournament host after playing Paraguay in its final match at the 2019 competition. The USA also faced Japan in the group stage two years ago.
2021 FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP GROUP A – USA SCHEDULE
|
Date |
Match-up |
Venue |
|
Aug. 19 |
USA vs. Football Union of Russia |
Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium; Moscow, Russia |
|
Aug. 21 |
USA vs. Japan |
Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium; Moscow, Russia |
|
Aug. 23 |
USA vs. Paraguay |
Luzhniki Beach Soccer Stadium; Moscow, Russia |
The 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup features 16 nations divided into four groups of four teams. The top two finishers in each group will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Aug. 26. The semifinals will take place on Saturday, Aug. 28 while the championship match is set for Sunday, Aug. 29.
2021 FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP GROUPS
|
Group A |
Group B |
Group C |
Group D |
|
Football Union of Russia |
Mozambique |
Belarus |
Portugal |
|
USA |
Spain |
El Salvador |
Oman |
|
Paraguay |
United Arab Emirates |
Switzerland |
Senegal |
|
Japan |
Tahiti |
Brazil |
Uruguay |
Should the USA advance to the quarterfinals, it would face a team from Group B.
The U.S. was drawn out of Pot 4 which included Oman, Belarus and Mozambique. Teams were sorted into pots based on a ranking determined by success in the last five Beach Soccer World Cups, with more recent tournament results weighted more heavily, as well as performance in confederation qualifying tournaments factored in.
This year marks the 11th FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and 21st world championship for beach soccer. Before FIFA took over organization of the competition in 2005, it ran annually as the Beach Soccer World Championships from 1995-2004. The USA finished second at the 1995 tournament as well as third and fourth in 1996 and 1997, respectively. In 2009, FIFA switched the tournament from annual to biennial.
Host Football Union of Russia has a strong recent history at the Beach Soccer World Cup. Russia finished third at the 2019 tournament and won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2013.
Japan was selected to participate by the Asian Football Confederation after the original qualifying tournament was canceled and is one of two teams to participate in every World Cup. The nation has been a frequent foe for the USA at the competition as this year will mark their fourth meeting at the tournament.
Paraguay has reached the last five World Cups, winning the third-place match at the 2021 CONMEBOL qualifiers to clinch the last berth from South America for this year’s competition.