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2025 Beach Soccer World Cup:
Iran given Portuguese test in group stage
The draw for the flagship international event of the sport took place in the host city on Friday, where Iran and Portugal were joined by world No. 12 Paraguay and Mauritania in Group B.
Iran will get its campaign underway against Mauritania on the opening day of the competition at Victoria’s Paradise Arena, before taking on Paraguay two days later.
The final round of the group fixtures will see Iran and Portugal go head-to-head on May 5.
Iran and Portugal – champion in 2015 and 2019 – will be the favorites to progress to the quarterfinals as the top two in the group, though Paraguay and talisman Carlos Carballo are a force to be reckoned with.
The Albirroja beat Brazil 5-3 in the group stage of last month’s Copa America, before falling 5-4 to the same opponent in a thrilling final.
Debutant Mauritania will have it all to do, though the African side recently proved to be capable of springing surprises, finishing runner-up in last October’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Iran, which finished third in its last two World Cup appearances in 2017 and 2024, booked its place at this year’s finals after cruising to a record fourth Asian Cup trophy last week in Pattaya, Thailand.
Ali Naderi’s men claimed five successive victories before routing Oman 8-1 in the final showpiece to defend their title – scoring 56 goals, while conceding only six in the process.
Elsewhere in the World Cup draw, the host nation landed in a wide-open Group A alongside fellow first-timer Guatemala, with Belarus, the revelation of the 2024 edition in Dubai, and Japan, runner-up in 2021, the favorites to go through.
Group C will see Tahiti, Spain, Senegal, and Chile battle it out for the last-eight spots.
Tahiti and Spain have finished second at the World Cup twice and once respectively, while Senegal reached the semifinals in 2021.
Brazil – the most decorated side in the tournament with six titles – Italy, El Salvador, and Oman complete the lineup in Group D.
The clash between Brazil and Italy will be the game to watch in the group phase as it will be a repeat of the 2008 and 2024 final showdowns, where Selecao came out on top on both occasions.