AFC Draw finalized with heightened hype

The groups have been determined for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 – AFC Qualifier Doha and drama awaits

As each day passes, the excitement builds for the FIFA Becah Soccer World Cup 2015 – AFC Qualifier Qatar, and the latest step has been a big one, the drawing of the teams into four groups in the official draw held today in Doha (Qatar). There are 15 nations participating and they were sorted into three groups of 4 and one group of 3. The top three sides will qualify for the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 in July.

The draw was presided by Nasser Al Khater, Executive Director, Communications & Marketing – Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Abdullah Jabir Al Saai, Futsal and Beach Soccer Director – Qatar Football Association, Joan Cuscó Beach Soccer Worldwide Executive Vice President, and FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member, and Alex Soriano Beach Soccer Worldwide Tournament Director, as well as Mohammed Fairoze, Futsal and Beach Soccer Competition Manager of the Asian Football Confederation, who was in charge of conducting the draw procedures.  

The hosts, Qatar, will be in Group A along with Oman, Bahrain, and Laos. Group B is set with Japan, China, Vietnam, and Kuwait. Group C has the UAE, Palestine, Uzbekistan, and Iraq. The final group, Group D has three sides, Iran, Thailand, and Lebanon. The format will include a very competitive group stage, where the top two sides from each group advance, followed by the elimination rounds of Quarter-finals and Semi-finals, and lastly the third place match and final. 

The last edition of the event, in 2013, also held in Qatar, ended in spectacular fashion, just how you would expect a final to be, with Iran topping Japan in penalties. The final slot for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti 2013 went to the United Arab Emirates after they narrowly defeated Australia in the third place match. 

Qatar’s capital city has a storied history of beach soccer and is now being recognised globally as a dream location for the sport. The past successes in Doha were aided by the trust and support of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy as well as the Qatar Football Association. That bond is only getting stronger and will serve beach soccer extremely well going into the sports’ bright future. 

Below is the list of teams and their group:

Group A – Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Laos

Group B – Japan, China, Vietnam, Kuwait

Group C – UAE, Palestine, Uzbekistan, Iraq

Group D – Iran, Thailand, Lebanon