1998 Beach Soccer World Championships

1998 Beach Soccer World Championships
Tournament details
Host countryBrazil
DatesJanuary 18–25
Teams10 (from 3 confederations)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Brazil (4th title)
Runners-up France
Third place Uruguay
Fourth place Peru
Tournament statistics
Matches played24
Goals scored216 (9 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Júnior (14 goals)
Best player(s)Brazil Júnior
Best goalkeeperBrazil Paulo Sérgio
1997
1999

The 1998 Beach Soccer World Championships was the fourth edition of the Beach Soccer World Championships, the most prestigious competition in international beach soccer contested by men's national teams until 2005, when the competition was then replaced by the second iteration of a world cup in beach soccer, the better known FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.[1] It was organised by Brazilian sports agency Koch Tavares (one of the founding partners of Beach Soccer Worldwide).

The tournament continued to take place at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For the first time, the number of teams competing was raised, from eight to ten. This change saw the longest group stage until the world cup became a 16-team event in 2006.

Brazil, the three-time defending champions, successfully defended their title again to win their fourth World Championship by beating France 9–2 in the final. This was the first time a European nation appeared in the final of the World Championship.

  1. ^ "FIFA launches first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup". FIFA.com. 1 February 2005. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2020.