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Afghanistan, the Philippines and Thailand are added to the largest-ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Asian Qualifier
Afghanistan, the Philippines and Thailand have been added to the Asian qualifying rounds for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti 2013 to round-off a historic 16-team event.
At the original draw, held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in December, 13 teams were drawn into four groups for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 – AFC Qualifiers.
But after several national member associations asked for additional time to complete their application to the competition, registration remained open following the original draw to accommodate such high-levels of interest from Asian countries to participate in the qualifiers.
The draw for the additional three teams occurred at FIFA?s Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on Monday.
Joan Cusco, FIFA Beach Soccer CEO (and FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member) and Jaime Yarza, FIFA Senior Manager Beach Soccer Competitions, were on hand to draw the additional teams for the Asian qualifiers.
Following the addition of the three teams, Nasser Al Khater, Vice Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said: ?We are extremely pleased that Qatar is hosting the largest-ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 – AFC Qualifiers. I look forward to an exciting and enjoyable event geared towards families and wish the best of luck to all of the participating teams.?
11 teams participated in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 ? AFC Qualifiers.
The qualifiers will be held at Katara Beach in Doha, Qatar from the 22nd to the 26th of January.
A state-of-the-art, 3,000 person, temporary stadium will be built on the shore.
Spectators can attend all matches free of charge and a small fan zone will also be set up adjacent to the stadium.
Qatar, Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, China, Iran, Iraq, Japan ? 2011 AFC Beach Soccer Champions, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan will compete in the qualifiers.
The first place teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. The two finalists and the third place, play-off winner will earn qualification to the seventh edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which will take place from the 18th to the 28th of September, 2013 at Toata Stadium (Stade de Toata) in Papeete, on the Pacific island of Tahiti.
Group A: Qatar, Oman, Australia and Afghanistan.
Group B: Japan, Bahrain, Lebanon and Thailand.
Group C: United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
Group D: Iran, China, Iraq and the Philippines.
Click here to see the whole match schedule and other info about the event.
