Belarus, Italy, Portugal and Spain – the four nations that represented Europe at the last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ – will do so again at Seychelles 2025.
Italy, runners-up at UAE 2024 Dubai, did it the hard way after losing their Group 1 opener to fast-emerging Denmark. Luca Bertacca, Alessandro D’Agostino and Josep Jr starred as Emiliano Del Duca’s side thrashed Belarus 9-3 and Switzerland 12-0 to make it to a 10th global finals.
Belarus, who only participated in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup for the first time in 2019, will appear at a fourth in a row next year. A 6-1 reverse of Denmark got Nico’s team, who finished fourth at UAE 2024 Dubai, through.
“It’s an incredible feeling to have the chance to represent your country at the World Cup again,” Anatoliy Ryabko told FIFA. “For the fourth time in a row we are excited and looking forward to starting preparations for this important event.”
Switzerland, who finished second at Dubai 2009 and third at Russia 2021, miss out on a second successive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Portugal and Spain grabbed Group 2’s two tickets to Seychelles 2025 with a game to spare. France gave it a go, only losing to Spain on penalties and leading Portugal en route to a 6-3 defeat, but must wait longer for a first FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup since 2008.
