Press Release

The Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup lands in Dubai’s Kite beach between 5th and 9th of November

That special time of year has come around once more, as one of beach soccer’s flagship events touches down on the Arabian Peninsula yet again.
The ninth edition of the Intercontinental Cup Dubai is set to return to Kite Beach between 5 and 9 November and hosts UAE will be joined by defending champions Iran, Egypt, Italy, Spain, AFC kings Japan, CONCACAF champs Mexico and three-times Intercontinental Cup winner Russia in this unique beach soccer showpiece.
The General Secretary of the Dubai Sports Council, HE Saeed Hareb, highlighted the importance of the event: “It is one of the excellency events in the Dubai Sports Calendar, the whole city knows about the Intercontinental
Beach Soccer Cup and everybody is waiting for the event to begin”.
In turn, Joan Cuscó, Beach Soccer World Wide Executive Vice-president, remembered that “although this year marks the 9th edition of the Intercontinental Beach Soccer Cup, we are already celebrating the 10th anniversary of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, what showcases the
strong relationship between Dubai and the sport”.
The official draw, held in early October, had the eight teams into two groups of four:
Group A: UAE, Japan, Italy and Spain
Group B: Russia, Iran, Mexico and Egypt
The 2019 tournament will not see any debutants hit the sand in the United Arab Emirates, but it will only be a second appearance for Italy and Spain, while Russia maintain their record of being the only side, other than their Emirati hosts, to take part in every single edition.

Precisely, Russia share the record for the most Intercontinental Cups won with Brazil (3), and this 2019 edition could be the perfect opportunity for Mikhail
Likhachev’s men to lift trophy number four.
However, defending champions Iran will also be keen to make the most of the absence of Gilberto’s Brazilians, as they could draw level with Brazil and Russia should they retain the Intercontinental Cup and clinch a third title this
year.

MATCH SCHEDULE
Participating teams:
Group A: UAE, Japan, Italy and Spain
Group B: Russia, Iran, Mexico and Egypt
Tuesday 05.11.2018
16:15 – Japan v Italy (Group A)
17:30 – Spain v UAE (Group A)
18:45 – Egypt v Russia (Group B)
20:00 – Iran v Mexico (Group B)
Wednesday 06.11.2018
16:15 – Japan v Spain (Group A)
17:30 – UAE v Italy (Group A)
18:45 – Russia v Mexico (Group B)
20:00 – Iran v Egypt (Group B)

Thursday 07.11.2018
16:15 – Italy v Spain (Group A)
17:30 – Mexico v Egypt (Group B)
18:45 – UAE v Japan (Group A)
20:00 – Russia v Iran (Group B)
Friday 08.11.2018
16:15 – PLAY-OFFS
17:30 – PLAY-OFFS
18:45 – SEMI-FINALS
20:00 – SEMI-FINALS
Saturday 09.11.2018
16:15 – PLAY-OFFS
17:30 – PLAY-OFFS
18:45 – PLAY-OFFS
20:00 – FINAL

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