An incredible journey through beach football

Beach Football is often associated with summer and warm weather, but this sport — officially recognised by FIFA since 2005 — is played throughout the year in different parts of the world.

Born on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro in the 1940s, Beach Football grew in importance over the decades, especially in the 1990s, when stars such as Cantona, Romário and Zico joined their national teams to compete in the first international tournaments.

In this article you will dive into the history of Beach Football, discover the major tournaments, relive Portugal's achievements and feel the passion that continues to fill the beaches every summer.

History of Beach Football

The first professional tournament was held under the umbrella of Beach Soccer Worldwide in Miami Beach, featuring the national teams of the USA, Italy, Brazil and Argentina. Its success led to the organisation of a new tournament on Copacabana beach and, shortly after, the first Beach Soccer World Championship.

With growing television exposure and the backing of sponsors, the sport gained widespread recognition and was integrated into FIFA in 2005. From that point on, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup became a flagship event, held annually in its first five editions and, from 2009 onwards, every two years.

Until 2007, all editions were held in Brazil. In 2008, Marseille hosted the first World Cup outside the country, paving the way for other venues: United Arab Emirates (2009), Italy (2011), Tahiti (2013), Portugal (2015), Bahamas (2017), Paraguay (2019), Russia (2021), the United Arab Emirates again (2023) and Seychelles (2025). The next edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is scheduled for 2027, with the host country yet to be confirmed.

Beyond the World Cups, continental tournaments are organised by FIFA's confederations. In Europe, the Euro Beach Soccer League stands out as the main professional competition for UEFA national teams. Portugal is the dominant force, with eight titles to their name, reinforcing the national team's status as a world power in the sport.

Beach Football in Portugal

Portugal is the only national team to have won world titles both before and after FIFA's involvement in the sport. The love affair between the Portuguese and Beach Football runs deep, with informal matches played on the beaches of the country's extensive coastline.

The real breakthrough came in 1997, with the organisation of the first Beach Football Mundialito in Figueira da Foz — a city that became the birthplace of major national competitions.

During the Beach Soccer Worldwide era, Portugal won the 2001 World Championship, along with two second-place finishes (1999 and 2002) and two third-place finishes (2003 and 2004). These results are complemented by eight Euro Beach Soccer League titles, seven Euro Beach Soccer Cups, seven Mundialitos and medals at the European Games (gold in 2019 and bronze in 2015).

Madjer's legacy and FIFA World Cup titles

The ultimate consecration came with the legendary Madjer, the first Beach Football player to surpass 1,000 international goals. In 2015, Portugal won the World Cup held on the beach at Espinho, beating Tahiti 5-3 in the final to claim the sport's first FIFA title.

Four years later, in 2019, the national team shone again by defeating Italy 6-4 in the final of the Paraguay World Cup, winning the second FIFA title in their history. This match also marked Madjer's farewell to the big stage, after a career filled with individual honours, including three Golden Boots and two Golden Balls. In addition to their two world titles, Portugal have also recorded one second place, four third places and one fourth place at FIFA World Cups.

National Beach Football structure

International success drove the creation of the National Beach Football League in 2005, born out of collaboration between several regional associations and local bodies. Held between May and July, the competition travelled to different regions of the country.

In 2010, the League evolved into the National Beach Football Championship, organised by the Portuguese Football Federation. This tournament takes place every year in July and August, bringing together the best clubs and players in the country.

The future of Beach Football in Portugal

Beach Football is today a global sport, with international and continental competitions that attract millions of fans. Portugal, with its history of achievements and unforgettable talents such as Madjer, continues to be a world reference.

With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon and the National Championship bringing life to Portuguese beaches every summer, Beach Football promises to keep growing in popularity and competitiveness.