The 2021 Beach Soccer World Cup begins Thursday, August 19, with four games on the schedule. This tournament marks the 11th edition of the premier beach soccer tournament. This year, Moscow hosts 16 teams from around the world to compete in the 11-day event.
The tournament happens every two years. In the 2019 tournament, Portugal won their second championship.
In terms of the most successful team, the honor belongs to Brazil. The Brazilians won four-consecutive Beach Soccer World Cups from 2006 to 2009. Then, the tournament occurred annually. Portugal is tied with Russia on two titles, and France won the inaugural competition.
This year, the 16 nations competing in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup come from around the world. Portugal, Spain, Belarus, Russia and Switzerland represent the European participants. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, El Salvador and the United States hail from North, Central and South America. Japan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are the Asian nations in attendance. Additionally, two African nations — Senegal and Mozambique — send teams to the tournament. Finally, Tahiti makes a return for the sixth time.
Beach soccer is an attacking-minded sport. To encourage goals, no game can end in a tie. Unlike the standard FIFA World Cup, beach soccer games always go to extra time and penalties, even in group stage games.
The format of the tournament largely reflects the standard FIFA World Cup, just half the teams. Four groups with four teams each. The winner and runner-up in each group advance to the quarterfinals. From there, it’s a standard single-game elimination tournament.
Where to watch the 2021 Beach Soccer World Cup
For Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States, Universo and the Telemundo Deportes app will carry all the games. The coverage will be led by Telemundo Deportes’ Karim Mendiburu, Copán Álvarez, alongside Diego Pessolano, Walter Roque and special guest analyst (and former captain of the USA Beach Soccer National Team) Oscar Gil.
Also, Telemundo Deportes’ digital platforms will have additional coverage throughout the games in the tournament. This includes daily recaps and highlights of major moments. The opening days games on Thursday will all feature on Universo.
On the English side, FOX Sports will be broadcasting when the United States plays. Although the United States plays their first game at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 19, against the Russia, the broadcast is at a different time. The FOX Sports “premiere” of the game is at 7 p.m. that night. Other games throughout the tournament are available through the FOX Sports website and app.
READ MORE: How to watch soccer on FOX Sports.
FOX Sports acquired FIFA broadcasting rights through the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup.
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, August 19
7:30 a.m. – UAE vs. Tahiti – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
9:00 a.m. – Paraguay vs. Japan – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
11:30 a.m. – Mozambique vs. Spain – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
1:00 p.m. – Russia vs. USA – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV, FOX Sports 1 (broadcast on tape-delay at 7:00 p.m. ET)
Friday, August 20
7:30 a.m. – Senegal vs. Uruguay – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
9:00 a.m. – Belarus vs. El Salvador – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
11:30 a.m. – Portugal vs. Oman – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
1:00 p.m. – Switzerland vs. Brazil – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
Saturday, August 21
7:52 a.m. – Mozambique vs. UAE – Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
9:22 a.m. – Japan vs. USA – Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
11:52 a.m. – Tahiti vs. Spain – Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
1:22 p.m. – Russia vs. Paraguay – Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
Sunday, August 22
7:30 a.m. – Uruguay vs. Oman – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
9:00 a.m. – Belarus vs. Switzerland – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
11:30 a.m. – Brazil vs. El Salvador – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
1:00 p.m. – Portugal vs. Senegal – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
Monday, August 23
7:30 a.m. – Tahiti vs. Mozambique – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
9:00 a.m. – Spain vs. UAE – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
11:30 a.m. – USA vs. Paraguay – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
1:00 p.m. – Japan vs. Russia- UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
Tuesday, August 24
7:30 a.m. – Oman vs. Senegal – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
9:00 a.m. – El Salvador vs. Switzerland – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
11:30 a.m. – Uruguay vs. Portugal – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
1:00 p.m. – Brazil vs. Belarus – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
Thursday, August 26 (Quarterfinals)
7:30 a.m. – Match 25: Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
9:00 a.m. – Match 26: Group C winner vs. Group D runner-up – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
11:30 a.m. – Match 27: Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
1:00 p.m. – Match 28: Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
Saturday, August 28 (Semifinals)
10:52 a.m. – Match 28 winner vs. Match 26 winner – Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
12:22 p.m. – Match 25 winner vs. Match 27 winner – Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
Sunday August 29
10: 30 a.m. – Third place match – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
12:00 p.m. – FINAL – UNIVERSO, Telemundo Deportes app, fuboTV
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