European qualifier draw is finalised

Jesolo, Italy staged and hosted the official draw for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 Qualifier Europe – Jesolo

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is coming up fast and with the European teams now officially set to battle for supremacy, things are progressing nicely. The official draw was held in Jesolo, Italy with many important figures present, including: Gabino Renales, Event Manager FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Ferdinando Arcopinto, fromt eh FIGC Amateur National League Beach Soccer Department, Claudio Bocchietti, Vice President of the Amateur National League, Valerio Zoggia, Mayor of the city of Jesolo, Cesare Toso, President of the Local Organizinfg Committe, Marco Vedovato, Sales Promoter of the MSC Crociere Venice, and Gianfranco Coppola, a member of the Executive Committee of the AIPS – International Sports Press Association Europe.

FIFA Beach Soccer Head of Competitions Josep Ponset was also assisted by Andreq Seno, a former professional footballer, and Giulia Arena, Miss Italia 2014. The draw pits Europe’s best teams against each other to decide who will be booking their tickets to Portugal for the World Cup in 2015. The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four with the two-time defending champions, Russia, in Group B. The runner-up in the last World Cup, Spain, are in Group C. The hosts of the qualifier, Italy, will be in Group A. 

The qualifier will take place from the 4th-14th of September and below is the official distribution:

Group A – Italy, England, Greece, Moldova

Group B – Russia, Belarus, Turkey, Georgia

Group C – Spain, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria

Group D – Switzerland, France, Estonia, Slovakia

Group E – Ukraine, Germany, Norway, Latvia

Group F – Poland, Romania, Hungary, Austria

After this first group stage, first and second ranked sides of each group, plus the four best third-ranked sides of the six groups will advance to the next round, with four groups of four. The winners of each group in that second group stage will earn a place in the semifinals, at the time they will qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2015.

Stay informed through beachsoccer.com as we will post more information leading up to the Qualifiers and World Cup.