Set for Seychelles: FIFA TSG land for Beach Soccer World Cup 2025

As reigning champions Brazil look to defend their title, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025™ is set to be one of the most competitive tournaments in the sport’s history. Hosted in the Paradise Arena in Roche Caïman, all 32 games will be observed and analysed by FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG), who will be on site for the tournament.

Matteo Marrucci and Angelo Schirinzi bring decades of experience as players and coaches to the TSG and will work closely with our Football Performance Insights Team to bring all of the most interesting technical and tactical observations to the FIFA Training Centre during the competition. They will then produce a considered and reflective post-tournament report, detailing the key trends that emerge compared to the previous tournament – FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024™.

Here, Marrucci and Schirinzi share their expectations ahead of what promises to be a fascinating tournament.

From a tactical perspective, is there anything you will be particularly interested in?

Marrucci: I will be interested to see how teams develop the 1-2-2 system of play and what kind of involvement the goalkeepers will have, because in 2024 they played very central roles for their teams, both in defence and attack. In certain teams, the goalkeeper was the tactical focal point of their attacks – especially IR Iran – and I also want to see if the 1-3-1 system has new solutions.

I’m curious to see how teams defend against the 1-2-2 as, in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024, we saw teams adopt a low block against this system, leaving the opposition goalkeeper without pressure, meaning they could really influence the game. So, I think this system has to evolve because of the impact that unopposed goalkeepers had. Will teams try to press the opposition goalkeeper quicker – and how? This will be fascinating, not just from a tactical point of view but also for the development of the game.

With the evolution of analysis in beach soccer, how much do you think the game has developed in recent years?

Schirinzi: The game is developing at a very high rate and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is the reference point for all coaches in the game. This is where we see the world-class level that teams around the world can benchmark against, in both coach development and the evolution of tactical strategies. It also applies strongly to player development, both technically and in terms of the roles that they play within a system.

Defending champions Brazil will be looking to defend their title. How difficult will this be?

Marrucci: With the previous Beach Soccer World Cup being delayed, it is only 14 months since Brazil won, which is the reason they are the favourites again. There is curiosity around the team, as coach Marco Octávio has made four changes to the squad, including the omissions of the very experienced Datinha and Bruno Xavier. However, when you look at their squad overall, they still have great depth and quality, and you need that to win a tournament where the games come in such quick succession. With Rodrigo leading their attack, they will be difficult to stop.

Who will be Brazil’s main competitors?

Schirinzi: Portugal have freshened up their squad with some younger players coming in, but there are still some very experienced players like the Martins brothers (Bê and Léo), so they will be strong contenders and looked very solid in qualifying.

IR Iran finished third last year and led for long stages in their semi-final against Brazil. They have a very good squad and two exceptional goalkeepers in Hamid Behzadpour and Seyed Mirjalili, who are both very strong with their feet.

Marrucci: I also think Italy will be real contenders because they reached the final last year and, for most of the players, it was their first time in a final. That experience will stand to them. Their squad is still quite young, but they know each other very well.

Spain will also be very competitive, and I expect them to reach the latter stages of the competition.

Which teams could surprise people?

Schirinzi: Belarus have players at the very highest level, technically and tactically, with a strong mindset. They are a settled squad and have been together for a long time, so they could be a surprise package again after finishing fourth in 2024. Senegal’s players are also excellent technically and very strong athletically. Furthermore, Paraguay looked very solid in qualifying and have some good individual players.

Marrucci: I also think Tahiti will aim to improve from last year, while Mauritania were something of a surprise during the CAF qualifiers.

What do you think of the draw for the group stages? Which groups do you think will be the most interesting?

Marrucci: The most interesting and toughest group is Group D, which includes Italy, Brazil, El Salvador and Oman. Having the two previous Beach Soccer World Cup finalists (Brazil and Italy) in the same group is intriguing, but El Salvador and Oman both have a strong tradition in the tournament. They will contest every minute of their matches until the very end and will be really tough opponents who are very capable of winning games. Oman gave Portugal a real scare last year, and I think this group is going to be intriguing.

Schirinzi: Group C is also fascinating, with Spain, Senegal, and Tahiti. This group is difficult to predict because all three have great history in the Beach Soccer World Cup and are strong competitors, and I am interested to see who progresses from this group, which will be a tough challenge for first-timers Chile too.

Which players do you think can make a real impact at this tournament?

Schirinzi: Rodrigo from Brazil. I have worked with him for almost six years now. We have won everything together and he is just world class.

Additionally, I am looking forward to seeing both goalkeepers from IR Iran (Hamid Behzadpour and Seyed Mirjalili) because they had such an impact at the Beach Soccer World Cup last year. Tactically, I think they could both have a big influence on how far IR Iran progress.

Also, Bê and Léo Martins from Portugal. They are tactically, technically and physically among the very best players in the world and will play a huge part in Portugal’s journey.

Marrucci: Italy’s Josep Junior Gentilin won the adidas Golden Ball last year, and there are big expectations on him to show that type of form again, while their goalkeeper, Leandro Casapieri, is a real linchpin in that team. I also expect Portugal wing Jordan Santos to be very influential as he is one of the best players in the world. I expect him to be at a similar level to when he helped Portugal win the tournament in 2019 because he is now back to his best after a period of injury.

Belarus forward Ihar Bryshtsel, the top goalscorer in 2024, is such a powerful and influential player, and I expect him to feature strongly again. IR Iran’s Ali Mirshekari was not well-known last year before the tournament, but he was outstanding. Japan captain Ozu Moreira stands out in every World Cup, and it is always a privilege to see him play, while Spain’s Chiky Ardil will be a key player for them.

What do you think of Seychelles as a venue?

Schirinzi: Seychelles is a fantastic venue. It is perfect for beach soccer, with superb beaches, and the host team can also have a major impact on the tournament. It is a great venue for the players and the supporters and marks the return of the sport to an island – it will be perfect.

Matteo Marrucci

Matteo Marrucci made his beach soccer debut for Italy in 2011 and played in three World Cups (2011, 2015 and 2017), finishing fourth in both 2015 and 2017. In 2017, he started to focus more on coaching, first with Pisa Beach Soccer and then as head coach of Germany’s national team. Following the restart of beach soccer after the COVID-19 pandemic, Marrucci returned to Italy and became the coach of Catania Beach Soccer in 2021. He attended FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021™ and FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup UAE 2024 as part of the TSG, and returns for the first ever FIFA tournament to be hosted in the Seychelles. He also had spells as head coach of the Netherlands and Turks and Caicos Islands and is currently back with Pisa Beach Soccer, winning the Italian league and Italian Cup in 2022 and the Super Cup in 2023.

Angelo Schirinzi

Angelo Schirinzi is currently the head coach of Switzerland’s national beach soccer team and is the former head coach of Tahiti. A former professional footballer, he transitioned to playing beach soccer at the age of 30, while simultaneously setting up Switzerland’s first ever national beach soccer team. His passion for the game saw him build a team that went on to win their first ever European Championship in 2005. His passion for coaching, developing and recruiting players sets him apart as pioneer in the game and he continues his role as a FIFA Technical Expert by joining our TSG for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025. He is a UEFA Pro Licence holder and was a key contributor to the production of the FIFA Beach Soccer Manual 2024.

Guatemala and Japan will kick off the tournament on Thursday, 1 May. Among the most mouth-watering ties in the group stage are Brazil v. Italy on Sunday, 4 May, IR Iran v. Portugal the following day, and Tahiti v. Spain on Tuesday, 6 May. The quarter-finals are scheduled to take place on Thursday, 8 May, with the semi-finals two days later, and the final on Sunday, 11 May.