2025 Beach Soccer World Cup |06 October 2023
Fifa president Infantino reveals the dates for the 2025 Seychelles Beach Soccer World Cup (Photo: Contributed)
Fifa sets May 1 -11 as Seychelles World Cup dates
The Fédération internationale de football association council yesterday chose May 1-11, 2025 as the dates for the Seychelles Beach Soccer World Cup.
The dates were revealed by Fédération internationale de football association (Fifa) president Gianni Infantino following the meeting of the council which is the main decision-making body of the organisation in the intervals of Fifa congress.
Following the announcement, Fifa posted the following on its official website.
“The 13th Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup™ will take place in the paradisiacal setting of Victoria, which is on Mahé island in the Seychelles, surrounded by crystal-clear waters and coral reefs, from 1 to 11 May 2025”.
In fact, this will be the first time that the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup will take place in Africa with Seychelles platforming it to ensure that the tournament has been hosted by all six Fifa confederations.
The 2025 finals in Seychelles will also mark the 20th anniversary of the maiden edition of the competition.
Reacting to the announcement Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) president Elvis Chetty said the roadmap can be better structured and targeted now that the dates are known.
He explained that as soon as the announcement was made in December last year that Seychelles had won the bid in to host the 2025 World Cup, preparations started in earnest.
Some members of the local organising committee (LOC) have already been appointed to start preparing the roadmap and work on the necessary structures that would have to be put in place in conjunction with Fifa.
There have already been two visits by Fifa experts. The first in July this year had more to do with infrastructure and the second last month accommodation.
Several local companies, institutions and individuals have been contacted for their partnership and the response so far has been good. There are also individuals and institutions who are coming forward voluntarily to seek guidance on how they can help.
In 2025 Seychelles will compete at the Beach Soccer World Cup for the first time.
The country will be joined by four teams from UEFA, three from the AFC and Conmebol, two apiece from the Cad and Concacaf, and one from the OFC.
The 2025 Beach Soccer World Cup is also expected to be a boost for sports tourism in Seychelles.
Contributed