USA Back On Beach Soccer World Cup Stage

ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay (Nov. 20, 2019) – The U.S. Beach Soccer Men’s National Team returns to the global stage on Thursday, Nov. 21 with its opening match of Group A play at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup against Switzerland at Estadio Mundialista “Los Pynandi” in Asuncion, Paraguay (3:50 p.m. ET; FS2, Universo).

The USA will also face Japan on Nov. 23 and the hosts, Paraguay, on Nov. 25 in Group A action. Fans can watch all the matches on FS2 and Universo, and follow the team on Instagram at @ussoccer_beach and Twitter at @ussoccer. The World Cup hashtag is #BeachSoccerWC.

2019 U.S. MEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM WORLD CUP ROSTER:

U.S. head coach Eddie Soto brought back five players who he took to the USA’s last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearance in 2013 in Tahiti, including captain Nick Perera and goalkeeper Chris Toth, who were named among the Top 50 Beach Soccer players in the world for a third consecutive year. Also returning are Alessandro Canale, Jason Leopoldo, and veteran Ryan Futagaki, who has the unique distinction of having also played for the USA at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria.

• READ: Additional Roster Notes

USA Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Juan Cervantes (Los Angeles, Calif.), Chris Toth (Fallbrook, Calif.),

DEFENDERS (4): Adriano Dos Santos (Baltimore, Md.), Ryan Futagaki (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Oscar Reyes (Santa Ana, Calif.), Jason Santos (Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.)

FORWARDS (6): Alessandro Canale (Venice, Calif.), Jason Leopoldo (Scottsdale, Ariz.), David Mondragon (Santa Cruz, Calif.) Nick Perera (Carlsbad, Calif.), Lucas Roque (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Gabriel Silveira (San Francisco, Cali.)

“12 Stories”

Fans can get to know all the players through U.S. Soccer’s latest “12 Stories” video series the delves into the lives of the U.S. team both on and off the sand. Watch all the episodes on ussoccer.com or U.S. Soccer’s social cannels!

THE TOURNAMENT FIELD:

Sixteen teams make up the field for the 2019 Beach Soccer World Cup, divided into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group after round-robin play will advance to the quarterfinals.

In the latest Beach Soccer Worldwide Rankings, all four teams in Groups A and B are ranked in the top 15. Rankings in parenthesis.

Group A: Paraguay (7^th), Switzerland (8^th), Japan (12^th), USA (15^th)

Group B: Italy (4^th), Tahiti (9^th), Mexico (11^th), Uruguay (14^th),

Group C: Russia (2^nd), Senegal (10^th), United Arab Emirates (13^th), Belarus (18^th)

Group D: Brazil (1^st), Portugal (3^rd), Nigeria (21^st), Oman (22^nd)

Group A Schedule:

• Thur., Nov. 21: Switzerland vs. USA (3:50 p.m. ET)

• Thur., Nov. 21: Paraguay vs Japan (7 p.m. ET)

• Sat., Nov. 23: USA vs Japan (3:50 p.m. ET)

• Sat. Nov. 23: Paraguay vs Switzerland (7 p.m. ET)

• Mon., Nov. 25: Japan vs Switzerland (3:50 p.m. ET)

• Mon., Nov. 25: USA vs Paraguay (7 p.m. ET)

FIFA.com: Complete Schedule

USA AT THE FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP:

The USA clinched a berth at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup by advancing to the 2019 Concacaf Beach Soccer Championship final in May with a penalty kick win over El Salvador. It marks the USA’s first time back at the World Cup since 2013, and fifth appearance in ten FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups,

U.S. Beach Soccer World Cup Results (USA Goal scorers)

2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

May 9: L 2-3 Japan (Pierre Cazassus, Eduardo Testa)

May 10: L 3-9 Portugal (Christian Braga, Ben Astorga, Francis Farberoff)

 

2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nov. 3: L 4-8 Japan (Raphael Xexeo, Francis Farberoff, Yuri Morales, Anthony Chimienti)

Nov. 5: W 4-2 Poland (Chimienti (2), Brendon Taguinod, Astorga)

Nov. 7: L 6-10 Brazil (Xexeo (3), Astorga (2), Taguinod)

 

2007 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nov. 2: L 4-8 Spain (Xexeo, Zac Ibsen, Jevin Albuquerque, Chimienti)

Nov. 4: W 7-6 Iran (Josh Nolz (2), Chimienti (2), Morales, Astorga, Ibsen)

Nov. 6: L 5-6 Portugal (OT) (Astorga (2), Nolz, A. Chimienti, Albuquerque)

 

2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Tahiti, French Polynesia

Sept. 19: L 4-5 Spain – Ryan Futagaki, Nick Perera, A. Chimienti, Lewie Valentine

Sept. 21: L 3-5 Tahiti (OT) - Own Goal, A. Chimienti, Perera

Sept. 23: W 6-4 United Arab Emirates - Perera (3), Alessandro Canale (2), Jason Leopoldo

Key Historical U.S. Stats:

• The USA has won three World Cup matches and suffered eight defeats over its first four tournaments.

• Current Men’s Assistant Coach Francis Farberoff is the only player to appear in all four World Cups.

• Most World Cup Games Played: Farberoff (11), Brendon Taguinod (9), Ben Astorga (8)

• Most World Cup Goals: Anthony Chimienti (9), Ben Astorga (7), Raphael Xexeo (6), Nick Perera (5)

• Most Games with a Goal Scored: 7 – Chimienti; 5 – Ben Astorga; 3 – Xexeo; 3 – Perera

• Most Consecutive Games with a Goal Scored: 5 - Chimieni (3 in 2007, 2 in 2013); 3 – Perera (2013)

• Most Games by a Goalkeeper: 6 – Luis Montanez; 4 – Bayard Elfin; 2 – Cazassus, Daryl Fischer, Chris Toth

• Hat tricks: Xexeo - Nov. 7, 2006 (L 6-10 Brazil); Perera – Sept. 23, 2013 (W 6-4 UAE)

• First Goal: Per FIFA, the first USA goal at a World Cup was scored by goalkeeper Pierre Cazassus May 5, 2005 in a 2-3 loss to Japan.

THE USA’S GROUP A OPPONENTS:

SWITZERLAND:

Switzerland is participating in its fifth Beach Soccer World Cup and third straight...Their best tournament in 2009 in UAE, where Switzerland finished as runner-up to Brazil...They finished fifth in 2017 and eighth in 2015...Switzerland qualified after finished fourth in European qualifying...their coach Coach Angelo Schirinzi was Tahiti's coach in 2013 when they beat USA in OT, and has been a player or coach in all five of Switzerland’s World Cup appearances.

• The last meeting between the USA and Switzerland came in a friendly on August 21, 2016 with the Europeans winning 10-6 in Spiez, Switzerland. Canale, Dos Santos, Leopolodo, Perera and Santos played in that match.

JAPAN:

Japan has never missed the Beach Soccer World Cup, joining Brazil as the only nations to compete in all 10 tournaments…Japan’s best finish was 4th in inaugural 2005 edition...the USA fell to Japan in the group stage of the 2005 (2-3) and 2006 World Cup (4-8)...Japan advanced to the quarterfinals in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2015 and failed to get out of group in their other four tournaments...They qualified for Paraguay 2019 by winning AFC Beach Soccer Championship on penalty kicks over United Arab Emirates…Ozu Moreira was the top scorer (8 goals) and Most Valuable Player at the Asian qualifying tournament, and recently named to the world Best Five team …Head coach Ruy Ramos also led Japan at the 2005, 2009, 2011 and 2013 World Cups.

• The USA defeated Japan for the first time on August 12, 2018 with a 5-3 win in the opening match of the Balaton Cup in Siófok, Hungary, with goals coming from World Cup roster players Alessandro Canale, Jason Leopoldo and David Mondragon, as well as Chris Albiston and an own goal.

• Japan has been one of the USA’s most frequent opponents outside of Concacaf over the years as the two have met in the U.S., Hungary, Japan, Dubai, Portugal and Brazil.

• Prior to 2018, Japan won all ten meeting since the inaugural FIFA World Cup: three friendlies in January 2017 in Florida, two in 2015 in Japan, both matches at the 2014 Intercontinental Cup in Dubai and also in the 2014 Mundialito in Portugal. The USA also lost to Japan at the 2005 and 2006 World Cups.

• The last recorded USA win over Japan came prior the sport was under FIFA at the 1999 World Series.

 

PARAGUAY:

The hosts first qualified for the Beach Soccer World Cup in 2013, and 2019 marks their fourth consecutive appearance ...The team’s best finish was in the Quarterfinals in Bahamas 2017, where they lost to eventual runners-up Tahiti...pivot Pedro Moran was top scorer at 2015 World Cup in Portugal with eight goals; Moran has combined to scored 15 goals in his three World Cups.

• The USA and Paraguay have never met on sand.

 

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BEACH SOCCER:

The concept is the same as the traditional game, but there are unique rules for the beach version. Without re-writing the Beach Laws of the Game, here are some basics:

• The game is played on a sand ‘pitch’ measuring roughly 30x40 yards and goals around 18x7 feet, with four field players and a goalkeeper, who can – and often does – score.

• There are three 12-minute periods (3 minute breaks in between), and no ties. If tied after 36 minutes, they’ll play a three-minute overtime period. If still tied, it’s best of three penalties, followed by sudden death. Points are as follows:

  • 3 points for regulation win

  • 2 points for overtime win

  • 1 point for penalty kick win

• Teams can dress all 12 players and make substitutions on the fly from the designated area.

• Goalkeepers can only use their hands once per possession, which is why having a goalkeeper comfortable with their feet can be advantageous.

• There are yellow and red cards. If a player is shown red, his team will play a man down for two minutes (or until the opponent scores if within two minutes). Afterwards, the team may re-insert another player to return to level.