The 13th edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ has officially kicked off on 1 May 2025 in Seychelles — the first time the tournament is being held in Africa.
Sixteen national teams from all six football confederations will compete over 11 days at the Paradise Arena, a specially-built 5,000-seat venue in Victoria. The stadium was originally constructed for the 2024 edition in the UAE and has now been relocated and reassembled in Seychelles as part of FIFA’s sustainability efforts. After the tournament, the facility will remain for community use, leaving a lasting legacy.
This year sees the tournament debut of four nations: Chile, Guatemala, Mauritania, and host nation Seychelles. Three of them featured on opening day, while Chile began their campaign on 2 May.
The opening fixtures included:
- Guatemala vs Japan
- Mauritania vs IR Iran
- Seychelles vs Belarus
- Portugal vs Paraguay
The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is known for its fast-paced, high-scoring action. The previous edition in Dubai saw 223 goals in 32 matches, averaging nearly 7 goals per game. The 2021 tournament had even more with 302 goals.
Seychelles Football Federation President Elvis Chetty expressed his pride, saying the country is ready to host the world and deliver a memorable tournament, adding:
“It’s an honour to be the first African nation to host this event — we are ready and excited.”
The full match schedule is available on FIFA.com.
