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An array of the world’s top sporting stars, together with an audience of 250 coaches, officials, invited dignitaries, guests and senior representatives from FIFA, the Local Organising Committee and leading UAE sporting bodies, gathered in Dubai for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009, Official Draw. The result was that the United Arab Emirates, the host team, will cross swords with Portugal in their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup curtain-raiser.

The Official Draw, determining the four groups of teams for the tournament, was conducted by Joan Cusco, FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member, assisted by H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hasher Al-Maktoum, Olympic gold medallist, Ramiro Amarelle (Spain), 2008 adidas golden ball, Bakhit Saad UAE star player and Christian Karembeu (France), 1998 World Champion.

The ceremony held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, in the presence of H.H. Sheik Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif, Secretary General of DSC, and Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President of the UAE Football Association.

In his opening speech Thierry Weil, FIFA Director and Member of the FIFA Beach Soccer SL Board, explained that it is exactly two years and one day to be precise, since FIFA announced to the world that Dubai would be the organising host city of the Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 and that he has been impressed by the progress this far. “Dubai is an ideal location for the tournament because of the emirate’s visionary leadership, the passion for sports and fantastic facilities. We are all extremely confident that we will have a very successful championship, both on and off the pitch and that Dubai will be the centre of worldwide attention from over 150 territories,” said Weil.

According to Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif Secretary General of DSC the Official Draw event was a spectacular celebration of the sport of Beach Soccer and an indicator of the dynamic showcase to come. “Here in Dubai we have only one standard and that is excellence. We offer our commitment to FIFA and to spectators both here in the UAE and across the globe, that through a unique partnership and fruitful cooperation we will make this a Beach Soccer World Cup to remember; an event that will last in all of our hearts and memories for many years to come.”

Marcelo Mendes UAE coach declared of the draw results, “It is a strong group however I am confident about my team’s options. We have gained experience during the past tournaments and have been working hard the past two years to be ready. I’m positive about our chances to reach the semi finals”

The tournament, that runs from 16th – 22nd of November, originated from the fabled Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in this, the fifth to be governed by FIFA, the new temporary home will be the paradise location of Jumeirah in the heart of new Dubai, where sixteen of the best beach soccer teams in the world will battle it out on Arabian sands. This is only the second time that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has been held outside of Brazil (the other location being Marseille, France in 2008) and is the tournament’s first time on Asian sand.

Majed Mohsen performed the master of ceremonies duties at the Official Draw, staged at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony incorporated cutting edge, composite projection on to 30 metre screens suspended beneath 5 metre magical, animated spheres.

The UAE will take on Portugal in their opening match of the 2009 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup to be played at the Jumeirah Beach from November 16-22.

The draw ceremony, held at the Dubai World Centre late on Thursday, saw the hosts being drawn to face the European runners-up in their opener at 7.30 pm on November 16.

The draw was witnessed by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and was conducted by Joan Cusco, member of the Fifa Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee, with assistance from the UAE’s Olympic gold medalist Shaikh Ahmad Hasher Al Maktoum; 1998 French World Cup star Christian Karembeu; Spanish star striker and 2008 adidas golden ball winner Ramiro Amarelle and UAE skipper Bakhit Saad.

Some of the top dignitaries present were Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President, UAE Football Association, Salah Tahak, Tournament Director and Dr. Ahmad Saad Al Sharif, Secretary General, DSC.

“This is going to be one huge challenge, but one that we are ready and willing to face before our home crowd,” Saad remarked after the draw.

Despite being drawn in a tough group, Marcelo Mendes, the UAE’s Brazilian coach was confident of making at least the semifinals of the week-long competition. “I trust my players and I am confident in their abilities to deliver when it matters most. We have been training together for the past two years and the players have gained adequate experience playing in some tough matches and competitions during our build-up to this event,” Mendes noted.

Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi spelt out that the promotion of beach soccer in the UAE is one of the priorities before the UAEFA. “The UAE are the Asian champions and this will be their second time at a World Cup,” Al Rumaithi stated.

Spain’s Ramiro Amarelle, who went on to win the adidas golden ball in Marseille last year, saw the UAE among the prime challengers for a place in the knockout stages of the competition. “It’s a tough group for them [UAE], but the spectators will benefit by seeing some exciting matches,” Amarelle stated.

Karembeu, who flew in especially for Thursday’s draw ceremony, hoped to see European champions Spain take on three-time and defending world champions Brazil in the November 22 final. “A final like this will be great for the sport and Dubai,” Karembeu said.

The beach soccer tournament originated from the fabled Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the Beach Soccer World Championship way back in 1994. However, in 2004, Beach Soccer Worldwide aligned itself with Fifa to create the current competition.

After the first three editions held in Brazil, the competition moved for the first time to Marseille, France (2008), where Brazil went on to be crowned world champions for a third straight time. And hosting the 16-team event here will be the first time for an Asian country to organize the Beach Soccer World Cup.

Groups

* Group A: UAE, Portugal, Uruguay, Solomon Islands
* Group B: Spain, Asia 1, Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador
* Group C: Russia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Italy
* Group D: Brazil, Nigeria, Switzerland, Asia 2

Portugal enter the new 2009-2010 with it all to do if they are to book their place at the World Cup in South Africa next year.

Semi-finalists in Germany three years ago under Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian left the national team last summer reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 after five years in charge.

The 2002 World Cup winner was replaced in the hot seat by former Real Madrid manager and Manchester United number two Carlos Queiroz.

However, the transition between coaches has been far from seamless and under Queiroz Portugal have now dropped to 17th in the FIFA World Rankings, their lowest position since June 2004 when they were ranked 22nd on the back of playing no competitive football prior to hosting Euro 2004.

The Portuguese have so far struggled to third place in their qualifying group, winning only two of their six matches so far. Therefore, Queiroz’s side will approach the new season’s fixtures with some trepidation with little or no margin for error left if they are to survive the tightest qualifying group in Europe.

First up, however, for Portugal is a friendly fixture in August against Liechtenstein. Queiroz’s troops will seek a moral boosting win over the minnows ranked 156th in the world as they seek a winning start to the season.

Next up in September is a trip to Denmark in an absolute "make-or-break" qualification match. Portugal squandered a 2-1 lead with only minutes to go to lose 3-2 when they faced the Danes in Lisbon last year, and have been playing catch-up in the group ever since.

Whereas Portugal have continued to stumble, Denmark have yet to break stride in an impressive campaign including wrapping up a vital three points away to Sweden at the end of last season and have now leapfrogged Portugal in the FIFA World Rankings to 15th.

Portugal must win in Copenhagen to stand any realistic chance of topping the group and gaining automatic qualification for South Africa. However, even such a victory would still leave them chasing a four-point deficit with only three games remaining.

A draw would all but end their automatic hopes (keeping the gap at seven points with only nine left to play for) whereas a home win would leave Portugal only able to chase down Hungary for second-place and a probable play-off place.

Four days after Copenhagen and Cristiano Ronaldo and co will again be on the road as they face Hungary in Budapest at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in what is another must-win match.

Portugal currently trail the Hungarians by four points and will without doubt have to win in Budapest if they are to at least finish second in the group. Any other result and Queiroz will be hoping for an extremely unlikely sequence of results to fall his way in the last two games for qualification to be secured.

The group will be completed by the final two rounds of games in October. Perhaps, crucially Portugal will be at home for both of these games.

First they host Hungary on Saturday 10 October and will most likely need to beat their opponents for the second time within a month if they are to keep their South African dream on track.

On the same night Denmark will be hosting Sweden in what will most likely prove the decisive night in the group.

Four days later Portugal will finish the group with a home game against Malta in Guimarães. One way or another Portugal will require the three points either in a race for first or second place and will be expected to win emphatically against the whipping boys of the section.

Portugal have yet to schedule any games for November and will realistically be hoping that they will have a two-legged Play-Off for a World Cup place to occupy them during this month.

Even if Portugal were to win all four of their games a place at the top of the group looks beyond them at this point in time and only an almighty collapse from Denmark could present Portugal with such an opportunity.

Whilst anything is still possible this does indeed look a long shot given the form already displayed by all teams involved so far.

The key factor for Portugal will be the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, the current FIFA World Player of the Year. The forward hit seven goals in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup and then bagged eight during Euro 2008 qualifying but has yet to find the net in six qualifiers so far this time.

Queiroz will need his captain to produce goals and lead his team when they need it most in the forthcoming qualifiers.

Portugal were favourites to qualify at the very start of the group but their historical record in World Cup Qualification is surprisingly poor suggesting that their absence from South Africa next year should perhaps not be the greatest shock.

They have qualified for the past two World Cups but overall have a very poor record, having only ever participated in four World Cup finals—1966, 1986, 2002, and 2006. However, in their first and last appearance they did finish third and fourth respectively.

Portugal’s Fixtures for 2009-2010
(as announced so far)

Wed 12 Aug Liechtenstein vs. Portugal Friendly

Sat 5 Sept Denmark vs. Portugal World Cup Qualifier

Wed 9 Sept Hungary vs. Portugal World Cup Qualifier

Sat 10 Oct Portugal vs. Hungary World Cup Qualifier

Wed 14 Oct Portugal vs. Malta World Cup Qualifier{#}