On Friday, the draw took place for the milestone 16-team FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025, unveiling the group stage matchups for the three African contenders.
The competition, taking place in Africa for the first time from May 1-11, will feature host nation Seychelles, Senegal as favorites, and newcomers Mauritania.
Seychelles find themselves in Group A, where they’ll face Belarus, first-time qualifiers Guatemala, and perennial contenders Japan – one of only two nations (alongside Brazil) to feature in every edition of the tournament since its inception.
Mauritania face a challenging path in Group B, pitted against Iran, reigning two-time champions Portugal, and South American side Paraguay.
African titleholders Senegal headline Group C, which includes European heavyweights Spain, Chile, and Tahiti – who have reached the final twice before.
The standout fixture in Group D sees defending champions Brazil clash with 2024 runners-up Italy in a highly anticipated rematch, with El Salvador and Oman completing the lineup.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout quarter-finals.
The vibrant draw ceremony in Victoria, Seychelles’ capital, kicked off with a lively performance of Bom Sé Sé—the tournament’s official anthem—delivered by local icon Elijah Seychelles and vocalist Taniah, setting an electrifying tone for the event.
For Mauritania’s coach Moussa Baghayogho, the occasion was unforgettable: “Seeing our flag raised among the elite of beach soccer filled me with immense pride. It’s a feeling beyond words.”
Yet the emotional high quickly gave way to reality—Mauritania landed in a fiercely competitive group. While the challenge is daunting, Baghayogho remains defiant:
“Yes, on paper, we’re the underdogs. But paper doesn’t win matches. Now that we know our rivals, we’ll train harder than ever to defy expectations and honor Mauritania—and all of Africa—with our performance.”
Senegal, set to make their 10th FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearance, monitored the draw intently during their training camp in Dakar.
Their inspirational captain, Al Seyni Ndiaye, left no room for doubt: “Our group is strong, but Senegal fears no one. We’ll fight in every match to show we belong among the world’s best. Our goal? To finish first.”
For Ndiaye—a veteran of nine World Cups—Group C presents a fresh challenge: Spain, Tahiti, and Chile are all first-time opponents for him at this stage.
“In all my World Cup appearances, I’ve never faced these teams before. Spain and Tahiti are powerhouses, while Chile is the underdog. But they’ve earned their spot—just like us.”
Three African teams, three distinct mindsets:
Senegal eyes dominance,
Seychelles embraces determination as hosts,
Mauritania rides a wave of debutant enthusiasm.
Yet they share one unifying mission—to light up the Seychelles shores with African pride.
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP, SEYCHELLES 2025 GROUPS
Group A: Seychelles, Belarus, Guatemala, Japan
Group B: Mauritania, IR Iran, Portugal, Paraguay
Group C: Spain, Senegal, Chile, Tahiti
Group D: Brazil, El Salvador, Italy, Oman
