2002 Beach Soccer World Championships

2002 Beach Soccer World Championships
VIII Beach Soccer World Championships 2002
Tournament details
Host countryBrazil
Dates13–20 January
Teams8 (from 3 confederations)
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Brazil (7th title)
Runners-up Portugal
Third place Uruguay
Fourth place Thailand
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored145 (9.06 per match)
Top scorer(s)Brazil Neném
Portugal Madjer
Uruguay Nico
(9 goals)
Best player(s)Brazil Neném
Best goalkeeperThailand Vilarb Nomcharoen
2001
2003

The 2002 Beach Soccer World Championships was the eighth 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 change its location, this time being staged for the first time at two venues, in Vitória, (Espírito Santo) and primarily Guarujá, (São Paulo), Brazil. In addition, the number of participating teams was reduced back to eight, as it was during the first three editions.

Brazil narrowly beat defending champions Portugal 6–5 in the final to reclaim the title, winning their seventh crown in eight attempts.[2]

  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.
  2. ^ "BRASIL "RECUPERA" TÍTULO MUNDIAL APÓS BATER (6-5) PORTUGAL" (in Portuguese). record.pt. 20 January 2002. Retrieved 1 June 2017.