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Puerto Vallarta to Host FIFA’s Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifiers
 RentalsInVallarta.com
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November 23, 2010
| | Games start December 1 in the sand courts of Unidad Deportiva Municipal Agustín Flores Contreras (the Sports Stadium across from the Sheraton hotel) in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. See schedule below. (ESPN) | |
Puerto Vallarta will host FIFA’s Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifiers this December 1-5. Eight teams from the North-Central American region (CONCACAF) will participate: Canada, United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Bahamas, Jamaica and the host Mexico. The two finalists of Puerto Vallarta’s qualifier tournament earn the right to compete in FIFA’s Beach Soccer World Cup Championship in Rome, Italy during the summer of 2011.
 FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP FINALS
This 16th edition of FIFA’s Beach Soccer World Cup is the first to take place every two years, instead of annually as before. The next edition will take place in Tahiti in 2013, so start saving for your trip!
The prior edition took place in Dubai in 2009 with Brazil wining over Portugal in the final match.
WHAT IS BEACH SOCCER?
Beach soccer is played between two teams of five players each. The ball bounces erratically when it hits the mounds of sand making it difficult to control the ball. Therefore, players avoid rolling the ball on the surface of the sand using instead plenty of air passes.
This “air game” results in very intense acrobatic displays of showmanship making the crowd go wild. Cheerleading teams on both sides spice up the game into a feeding frenzy.
PUERTO VALLARTA BEACH SOCCER VENUE
Games will start December 1 in the sand courts of Unidad Deportiva Municipal Agustín Flores Contreras in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Puerto Vallarta organizers will hold the random drawing to determine the groupings and initial matches of this FIFA Beach Soccer Qualifiers this November 24, 2010.
OTHER FIFA BEACH SOCCER QUALIFIERS
The European qualifiers held in Bibione, Italy last July had 27 teams competing for four European berths. The surprising winner Ukraine, defeated last year’s World Cup finalist Portugal. Third-place went to Russia and fourth-place to Switzerland, whose team obviously practiced on the sandy beaches high in the Alps. Prior notables, Spain and France failed to make the cut.
Other qualifiers remaining prior to the World Cup are the Asia Qualifiers, Africa Qualifiers, South America Qualifiers and Oceania Qualifiers scheduled for February 2011, in Tahiti.
HISTORY OF BEACH SOCCER
Beach soccer evolved independently from organized soccer in coastal regions of Asia, Latin America and Africa. Brazil is credited with transforming Beach Soccer into an organized sport with rules and a regulating organization. Since FIFA took over the organization of the sport, Beach Soccer has become one of the most watched and televised sports around the world.
RULES OF BEACH SOCCER
Organized Beach Soccer lasts 36 minutes split into three 12-minute periods. There are 3 referees two in the sand court and one controlling the benches. Yellow cards are used to indicate serious faults and the player must leave the game for two minutes. A red card is used by the referee to stop repeat offenders or to punish egregious faults, meaning an immediate ejection for the remainder of the match.
COME JOIN THE PARTY
Come and enjoy Puerto Vallarta’s Beach Soccer Tournament and the beauty that Puerto Vallarta’s Bandera’s Bay has to offer. The tournament takes place just before high-season rates take effect at most hotels so you can save money by travelling early while watching this great sport.
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