Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain attends FIFA BSWC 2006 Qualifier

The first round of matches of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 - Qualifier Dubai featured four teams that left the field with mixed emotions. While favourites Japan beat the Philippines 16-0 in the first match, the second clash had Bahrain and hosts UAE battling head-to-head until the third period. The Bahraini squad thrilled the crowds by edging their neighbours 7-4 and right now sit atop of group A.

[ClickPress, Tue May 23 2006] The first round of matches of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Dubai featured four teams that left the field with mixed emotions. While favourites Japan beat the Philippines 16-0 in the first match, the second clash had Bahrain and hosts UAE battling head-to-head until the third period. The Bahraini squad thrilled the crowds by edging their neighbours 7-4 and right now sit atop of group A. After closely following this enticing match, Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Bin Hamad Al Khalifa congratulated the Bahraini team on their victory.

The qualifiers will be held till May 26 in Jumeirah Beach Park and feature six Asian nations that will battle for three berths in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006, which gathers the 16 top teams in the globe in Rio de Janeiro, from November 2 to 12.

The UAE and Bahrain are in group A alongside China PR, while group B draws together Japan, the Philippines and Iran. The countries play round-robin inside their pools and the top two teams of each qualify for the semi-finals. The finalists and the winner of the 3rd place match qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006.

CAPTION
Pic 1 - Hamad Bin Mejren of DTCM Marketing with Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, from Bahrain at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 Qualifier Dubai

Pic 2 - UAE’s Mohammed Ibrahim in action against Bahrain

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Dubai

Jumeirah Beach Park – May 22 to 26
* Free admission for park attendants (limited seats, on a first-come/first-serve basis)

GROUP A GROUP B
UAE JAPAN
BAHRAIN PHILIPPINES
CHINA PR IRAN





Teams play round-robin inside their groups and the top two from each advance to the semifinals. The finalists will be qualified to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006, as well as the winner of the 3rd place match.

Match schedule:

* All times are local (GMT +4)

TUESDAY, MAY 23
4:00 PM GAME 3: BAHRAIN VS. CHINA PR
FOLLOWED BY GAME 4: JAPAN VS. IRAN


WEDNESDAY, MAY 24
4:00 PM GAME 5 – PHILIPPINES VS. IRAN
FOLLOWED BY GAME 6 – UAE VS. CHINA PR

THURSDAY, MAY 25 - SEMIFINALS
(ORDER OF SEMIFINAL MATCHES COULD BE ALTERED DUE TO HOST BROADCASTER REQUEST)
4:00 PM GAME 7 – 1ST GROUP A VS. 2ND GROUP B *
FOLLOWED BY GAME 8 – 1ST GROUP B VS. 2ND GROUP A *

FRIDAY, MAY 26 – FINAL AND 3RD PLACE
4:00 PM GAME 9 – LOSER 7 VS. LOSER 8 *
5:00 PM GAME 10 – WINNER 7 VS. WINNER 8

* WINNER QUALIFIES TO THE FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2006

The Road to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Rio de Janeiro, November 2-12
The 16 participating teams will come from six qualifying events worldwide:

SOUTH AMERICA:
Brazil: Host country

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Macaé / Brazil, March 5-12

Uruguay
Argentina

ASIA:
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Dubai / United Arab Emirates, May 22-26

3 slots

AFRICA:
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Durban / South Africa, July 11-16

2 slots

EUROPE:
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Marseille / France, August 23-27

5 slots

OCEANIA:
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Tahiti / Tahiti, August 30 – September 3

1 slot

NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBE
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 – Qualifier Miami / United States, October 6-8

2 slots

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