AFC BEACH SOCCER QUALIFIERS NEXT MONTH

The Asian zone qualifiers will take place in Dubai from 6-10 May – where the United Arab Emirates will be hosting the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009.

The AFC have yet to announce the participating teams for the qualifiers although three teams will qualify for the final competition.

FIFA will be organising the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup this year and where it will be staged outside of Brazil’s Copacabana beach for the first time ever.

It will be held in Marseilles, France from 17-27 July with 16 teams competing in the fourth edition of this event.

As hosts, France gain automatic qualification and will be hoping to repeat their 2005 triumph when they lifted the sport’s coveted World Cup title in the inaugural tournament.

The final draw for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 in Marseilles will take place in Benidorm after the last UEFA qualifying match on 18 May.