The number of teams taking part in international competitions has been steadily growing since 2005 and is now at an all-time high
FIFA has been a part of the beach soccer family since 2005 and the number of countries taking part in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup along with the Qualifiers has steadily risen. There are 209 FIFA members and 106 have participated in the Regional Qualifiers but another 15 nations have taken part in an international beach soccer competition. The list will continue to build as more and more people are seeing all the values and possibilities that the best sport on sand brings each and every time two teams step on the pitch.
On the six continents and subsequent regions; AFC, OFC, CAF, CONCACAF, UEFA, and CONMEBOL, the teams looking to eye World Cup glory by means of the Qualifiers are increasing by the day. In the Asia region there are 22 countries to attempt for qualification, plus another nine who have participated in other top-notch international events. Oceania has nearly all their nations playing in the qualifiers, with 7. Africa has 19 teams continually battling to make the World Cup and they also have one other country building up to that status by playing in other tournaments. North America, Central America, and the Caribbean have 16 of their members participating, and Europe has the most countries, with 32, playing as well. Lastly, South America has every nation, playing in their Qualifiers.
The next World Cup will be in the Bahamas in 2017 and the Qualifiers will begin in 2016. The best teams from each region will qualify, plus the host nation. This format leads to the most exciting Qualifiers and of course the best possible World Cup. Europe had five teams this past year, as Portugal was the host, and the Portuguese were able to outgun the recently revamped and reenergized Tahitian side. The number of countries will surely reach a new milestone in the coming years and you can rest assured that more and more mountains will be climbed as the sport grows and grows.
