MIAMI, CMC- Teams from 16 countries are down to battle for supremacy in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships carded for Bahamas early next year.
The countries were divided into four groups of four teams at the tournament draw which occurred at the Intercontinental Hotel in Florida, Tuesday.
The tournament is set to kickoff February 20 in Nassau with the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility hosting all group, quarter-final, semifinal, third place and final matches.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to not just play in but host this tournament once again,” said Bahamas Beach Soccer National Team Captain Gavin Christie.
“Then to follow that up with hosting and playing in the World Cup, we are excited and The Bahamas will be ready”.
Tournament host Bahamas, who was seeded into Group A, will face Jamaica, Belize and Guyana.
In Group B, defending CONCACAF Beach Soccer champion Mexico was joined by Guatemala, Canada and Guadeloupe, while United States, Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua & Barbuda and US Virgin Islands make up Group C.
El Salvador will be in Group D with Costa Rica, Panama and Turks & Caicos Islands.
“We are eager to welcome fans and visitors from around the world so that they can experience the hospitality of The Bahamas,” said Anton Sealey, President of the Bahamas Football Association (BFA).
“I look forward to seeing thousands of visitors in Nassau in February and then again in April when we welcome the world to the pristine shores of Nassau, Bahamas”.
The CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships is also being used as a trial run for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup slated for April 27 to May 7.
The champion and the runner-up of the competition will join host Bahamas as the three CONCACAF representatives in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017.
CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship Bahamas 2017 Groups
Group A – Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, Guyana
Group B – Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, Guadeloupe
Group C – United States, Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua & Barbuda, US Virgin Islands
Group D – El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Turks & Caicos Islands
