Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup 2011 Brings The World’s Leading Icons Of The Sport And Today’s Rising Stars To The Sands Of South Beach

The schedule of matches for the Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup 2011 is as follows:

Friday, April 29th
3:30pm – Mexico vs. USA
4:45pm – Brazil vs. Spain

Saturday, April 30th
3:30pm – Spain vs. Mexico
4:45pm – Brazil vs. USA

Sunday, May 1st
1:00pm – USA vs. Spain
2:30pm – Celebrity Match
4:00pm – Brazil vs. Mexico
5:30pm – Trophy Presentation

FIFA Beach Soccer, in association with Beach Soccer Worldwide, brings the nation’s first ever FIFA Beach Soccer tournament to the U.S., with the introduction of the Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup 2011, taking place on the sands of South Beach, between 20th and 22nd Streets, Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1st, 2011. Admission is free.

Hot on the heels of the AMG Miami Beach Polo World Cup, South Florida will experience the magic of beach soccer for the first time at a temporary stadium arena built behind The Setai hotel that will host the most spectacular version of “the beautiful game” on the pristine sands of Miami Beach.

Four of the world’s leading national teams will offer a perfect blend of European and Pan-American beach soccer, competing at the highest level. Hosts USA will be joined by the undeniable kings of the sport and World Champions, Brazil, as well as the current CONCACAF Champions, Mexico, alongside European leaders, Spain. The world’s top beach soccer players are expected at the inaugural Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup, including Brazilians Buru, Benjamin and Andre, Spaniards, Amarelle and Javier Torres, Mexican Ricardo Villalobos, Morgan Plata, together with USA home stars such as Oscar Gil and Zak Ibsen, among many others that will battle for the Cup. In addition to the sport’s rising stars, some of today’s best-known soccer icons are expected to make an appearance, along with a host of international celebrities from the world of entertainment.

“We are pleased to introduce the first ever Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup 2011 to the sands of South Beach,” says Joan Cusco, Managing Director of FIFA Beach Soccer. “South Florida serves as the gateway to the Americas and Miami Beach is therefore the perfect venue to host our first Official Beach Soccer tournament. We have some of the world’s leading players participating in the best teams from Latin America and Europe. Due to the eclectic mix of nationalities from all over the world who reside and visit Miami Beach this time of year, the Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup will appeal to everyone and prove entertaining for soccer fans and casual spectators alike. We plan on making the competition an annual fixture on the sporting calendar.”

Each team, comprised of five players on the field, will compete in a round-robin tournament format, with each match consisting of three periods of 12 minutes, during which substitutions are made from each squad of ten. Three points are awarded for a win during normal time, with two points awarded for a win during extra time or after a penalty shoot-out. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament on Sunday will emerge winners of the Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup 2011.

Some of the biggest names in world soccer, both past and present, will entertain the crowd during the highly anticipated Celebrity Match taking place on Sunday at 2:30pm, in-between the final round of matches. Also being planned for the weekend is a series of private VIP events and fashion shows that will take place inside the spectators tent.

Before the tournament begins and as part of a community awareness drive between The Beach Soccer Foundation and Miami-Dade County, the “Clean The Beach” initiative invites the local community to join members from the Foundation and players from the four participating teams, the cheerleaders, coaches, referees and anyone who wants to get onboard, to take part in this valuable initiative. The “Clean the Beach 2011” program aims to take care of the surroundings of the Stadium facilities and raise environmental awareness among the local citizens and help everybody understand how important it is to protect our sands.

“Clean The Beach 2011” will take place at Stadium’s Main entrance (between 20th and 22nd streets) on South Beach, starting at 5:45 pm on Thursday, April 28th.

For further information on the Beach Soccer Worldwide Miami Cup 2011, visit www.beachsoccer.com.