A fast five-a-side football variant played barefoot on sand, with frequent acrobatic shots and overhead-kick goals.
Origin and rules
Beach soccer was first organised in the 1990s on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro by former Brazilian internationals including Junior. Beach Soccer Worldwide began running professional events in 1992, and FIFA took over the world cup format in 2005.
How it plays
Five players per side compete on a 35- by 26-metre sand pitch with no rebounds from the surrounds. Goalkeepers play with their hands. Three nine-minute periods with a stop clock keep the action high, and matches cannot end in a draw.
Competition
The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is the marquee event, supplemented by continental cups and the Mundialito de Clubes. Brazil, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, and Iran are dominant nations. Beach soccer is on the World Beach Games but not the Olympic programme.
Find more sports by letter
Beach Soccer starts with B and ends with R. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Beach Soccer":