A Look At The 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

The Solomon Island's 6-2 victory over Vanuatu in the final of the Oceania Football Confederation Beach Soccer Tournament created history. Not only did it give them a place in the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil, but it also made them the first team other than Australia and New Zealand to qualify for a FIFA event from the OFC. Read all about it here: Bilikiki boys reach Brazil

The 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will take place in Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from November 2 - November 12. 16 teams will be split into 4 groups of 4 with the Top-2 from each group advancing to the knock-out phase.

(Information on host nation, Brazil)
(History of Beach Soccer)
(Information on Beach Soccer)
(Information on FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup)

The teams taking part include: From Europe: Spain, Portugal, Poland and Italy; From South America: Uruguay, Argentina; From North America, Central America and the Carribbean Region: USA and Canada; From Asia: Bahrain, Japan and Iran; From Africa: Cameroon, Nigeria; From Oceania: Solomon Islands; And defending champions, France and Hosts, Brazil.
(Click here to see how they all qualified)
(Click here to see group standings and schedules)

Solomon Islands are in Group C which also includes Cameroon, Portugal and Uruguay. They will first play Cameroon, then Uruguay, then finally Portugal. Both Portugal and Uruguay will be extremely strong. After Brazil, Portugal and Uruguay are the next most successful teams in the Beach Soccer World Cup. Portugal, last year's runner-up have been in 4 finals, and is the only team to have lifted the World Championship trophy besides Brazil and France, when they won in 2001. Uruguay meanwhile has appeared in 2 finals and were third-place winners 3 times. Cameroon are not to be taken lightly considering they're the top qualifier from Africa. The Bilikiki Beach Boys will have to play out of their skin if they're to make it past the group stages. Their first game against Cameroon presents their biggest opportunity to shine.
(Click here to see a profile of Cameroon)
(Click here to see a profile of Uruguay)
(Click here to see a profile of Portugal)

More photos from the qualifiers: