Beach soccer: UAE in same group as Brazil

Hosts to be joined by Spain and Egypt at next month’s Huawei Beach Soccer tournament

Hosts UAE have been grouped alongside former multiple world and defending champions Brazil, European champions Spain and a star-studded Egypt for the Eighth Huawei Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup 2018 to be held on Kite Beach, Jumeirah, from November 6-10.

The eight participating teams for the five-day competition were drawn into two groups at the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) headquarters in the presence of Saeed Hareb, the DSC General Secretary, Joan Cusco, the BSWW executive vice-president, and Gene Jiao, president of the Huawei Consumer Business Group, Middle East and Africa.

Brazil, who scored a 2-0 win over Portugal last year to bag their third Dubai title, will have to contend with the hosts, Spain and a fast-improving Egypt

Brazil will have to contend with the hosts, Spain and a fast-improving Egypt in Group A, while three-time Dubai champions Russia will be up against crowd favourites Iran, as well as Tahiti and the USA in Group B.

in Group A, while three-time Dubai champions Russia will be up against crowd favourites Iran, World Cup runners-up Tahiti and the USA in Group B.

The invitation-only tournament has been held every November in Dubai since 2011 as the finale to the international beach soccer season where champions from all the football zones gather to decide the overall champion. Also held alongside the competition will be the annual awards gala — the ‘Beach Soccer Stars’ — and the launch of the 2019 season.