Dear beach soccer family, welcome to Italy again

by Carlo Tavecchio, the President of the FIGC

I am pleased to welcome the grand family that is European beach soccer to Italy from September 5th to the 14th for the ‘FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 – Qualifier Europe’ set in the beautiful location of Jesolo.

We are confident that the representatives of FIFA and Beach Soccer Worldwide, members of the participating Federations, all managers, engineers, players, and referees will appreciate the quality of the organization and the hospitality of our country, which once again is confirmed as the international benchmark for beach soccer.

The link between this FIFA modality and Italy is in fact very strong: the FIGC Football Federation was the first in the world, through the National Amateur League, to establish a National Team in 2004, a year before the start of the FIFA World Cup. Since 2003 the Federation has established a Beach Soccer Department to provide a national championship pedigree as well as to stimulate the development of club teams in other countries; it has promoted numerous international events of the highest level, such as the Euro Beach Soccer Cup, hosted in Naples and Rome, and also the FIFA World Cup 2011 in Ravenna. The department has also made a fundamental contribution to the birth of the ‘Euro Cup Winners Cup’, first held in San Benedetto in 2013 and in Catania this year.

I take this opportunity to also thank the Local Organizing Committee for their commitment and professionalism demonstrated in the recent months; the directors, contractors, and volunteers who have worked hard for Jesolo, along with the FIGC and the LND, for an international event that represents an excellent opportunity for tourism and land development.

I would also like to thank FIFA and BSWW for the trust that they have put in Jesolo and Italy. I wish the best of luck to the participating National teams under the FIFA Fair Play Flag and the ideal of mutual respect. A good luck is particularly in order for our Azzurri; we will be rooting for you and cheering for you with passion and enthusiasm in the race to qualify for the World Cup.