JOAO PESSOA, Brazil (March 18, 2026) – Playing under hot and humid afternoon conditions, the U.S. Men’s Beach Soccer National Team got an equalizing goal from Fredo Dilbert but ultimately fell 3-1 to Japan in the opening match of the 2026 Paraíba World Beach Games.
The match saw defender Antonio Chavez become just the 11th player in team history to earn 50 caps for the Beach MNT, with the Oceanside, Calif. product also extending his run of consecutive appearances to 44 games.
The USA returns to action against hosts Brazil on Thursday, March 19 at 6 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local).
Japan took the lead through Takaki Oba, beating Andres Diaz inside the upper right post via a free kick from midfield with 8:40 remaining in the first period.
With four minutes remaining Japanese beach soccer legend Ozu Moreira sent a dangerous ball from the back towards Oba, who redirected from close range, but Diaz was there, sacrificing his body to make a great save.
Injured on the play, Diaz was replaced by Austin Collier, who was tested early, turning away a close-range volley from Takumi Uesato at the right post.
The USA remained active throughout the first period and went into the break trailing 1-0.
The USA upped the pressure in the second period. With nine minutes remaining, Cody Valcarcel was fouled at midfield and on the ensuing free kick, forced a diving save out of Takeru Furusato at the left post, giving the U.S. its first corner. Following the corner, Andres Navas unleashed a close-range effort that Furusato expertly turned away.
After being fouled inside the U.S. half, Alvaro Franco came close to equalizing, sending his low free kick just past the right post with 3:28 remaining.
The U.S. equalized with just under three minutes left as Fredo Dilbert broke free down the right, pushed the ball past Takumi Uesato and slotted inside the right post with 2:52 remaining in the second period.
The lead was short-lived however, as a miscue between Tanner Akol and Diaz at the back led to an own goal and Japan retaking the lead with 2:40 remaining in the second.
The humid conditions tempered play in third period, but Japan got a third goal about midway through the interval as Yohei Otsuki was fouled just outside the box. On the ensuing take, the Japan attacker blasted his effort inside the top left corner to give the Samurai Blue a 3-1 lead.
With 2:20 remaining, Collier made a great save on a deep-lying free kick from Ozu Moreira, pushing it past the left post.
The USA had one last chance. With 20 seconds remaining, captain Alessandro Canale unleashed a long free kick that Furusato pushed out for a corner at the right post, confirming Japan’s 3-1 victory.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Match: United States Beach Men’s National Team vs. Japan
Date: March 18, 2026
Competition: 2026 Paraíba World Beach Games – Group Stage
Venue: Arena PWBG; Joao Pessoa, Brazil
Attendance: 200
Kickoff: 1:45 p.m. ET (2:45 p.m. local)
Weather: 88 degrees, humid
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| USA | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| JPN | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| JPN – Takaaki Oba (Free Kick) | 8:40 (first period) |
| USA – Fredo Dilbert | 2:52 (second period) |
| JPN – Own Goal (Andres Diaz) | 2:45 |
| JPN – Yohei Otsuki (Free Kick) | 6:35 (third period) |
Lineups:
USA: 12-Andres Diaz; 3-Antonio Chavez, 6-Cody Valcarcel, 8-Matthew Citron, 9-Alessandro Canale (Capt.)
Substitutes: 1-Austin Collier, 2-Tanner Akol, 4-Fredo Dilbert, 5-Dillon Thompson, 7-Andres Navas, 11-Alvaro Franco
Did not play: 21-Brian Shushkovsky
Head coach: Marcelo Mendes
JPN: 1-Takeru Furusato; 7-Takaaki Oba, 5-Ryota Tusboya, 10-Ozu Moreira, 11-Ryota Morioka
Substitutes: 2-Yohei Otsuki, 3-Mido Yasunaga, 4-Kosuke Matsuda, 6-Chikara Eguro, 8-Takumi Uesato, 12-Shinya Shiamoto
Head coach: Teruki Tabata
Stats Summary: USA / JPN
N/A
Misconduct Summary:
none
Officials:
First Official: Mayron Novaes (BRA)
Second Official: Douglas Magno (BRA)
Third Official: Wesley Gabriel (BRA)
Timekeeper: Flavio Cleber (BRA)