STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
The ninth edition of the prestigious competition kicks off tomorrow with a spectacular line-up
Everything is ready for the ninth Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup to begin at Dubai’s Kite Beach. Once again, Dubai will become the epicentre of the sports world with a unique beach soccer competition, featuring the best teams in the world in an electric showdown between the 5th and 9th of November.
Although defending champions Iran and three-times champions Russia may be earmarked as the red-hot favourites, the competition banks on the likes of European superpowers Italy or Spain, CONCACAF champions Mexico, Asia kings Japan or Egypt, together with the hosts UAE National Team.
Asian champs Japan and Italy will kick start the competition at 4:15 pm. It has been a while since the last time the Samurai Blue and the Azzurri took part in the competition (2014 and 2013, respectively) and will try their best to begin in the best possible fashion this year, acknowledging that one defeat can be a very important setback in such a competitive battle.
Hosts UAE will be making their debut against one of the European powerhouses taking part in the competition, Spain, a team they already had to play against in the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup. On that occasion, the Emirati prevailed, thanks to a narrow 5-4 win, and Al Maazmi’s will try this year to get, at least, a similar result against the Spaniards so to kick-off their Intercontinental Cup campaign in style.
Right after the clash between the Emirati and La Roja, the three-time champions Russia will begin their quest for their fourth crown (which would make them the most decorated team in the Intercontinental Cup records) facing Egypt for the first points at stake in group B.
Precisely, also in group B, current Intercontinental Cup holders Iran will have a similar idea: reediting the throne in Dubai. Their first obstacle in the road to that objective is CONCACAF kings Mexico, who they will take on tomorrow (8:00 pm).
The training sessions held today at the stadium in Kite Beach showcased the strong will, and great level of preparation by all the contenders in this great tournament. Only one will prevail, though. The race begins tomorrow.
