1998 Beach Soccer World Championships

1998 Beach Soccer World Championships

Tournament details
Host country	Brazil
Dates	January 18 – January 25
Teams	10 (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 played	24
Goals scored	216 (9 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Júnior (14 goals)
Best player(s)	Júnior
Best goalkeeper	Paulo Sérgio
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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.

Organisation[]

The number of teams competing this year was increased to ten which meant necessary alterations to the past organisational structure of the tournament.

The nations were split into two groups, just as in previous editions, however this time since ten nations were competing instead of eight, both groups consisted of five nations rather than four. The countries competed in a round robin format. The top two teams then progressed to the semi finals from which point onward the championship was played as a knock-out tournament until a winner was crowned, with an additional match to determine third place.

Teams[]

Africa, Asia and Oceania were unrepresented.

Notes:

1. Teams making their debut

Group stage[]

Group A[]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	W+	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Brazil	4	4	0	0	38	6	+32	12	Advance to knockout stage
2	Peru	4	3	0	1	21	23	–2	9
3	Spain	4	2	0	2	17	22	–5	6
4	Argentina	4	1	0	3	13	19	–6	3
5	Italy	4	0	0	4	12	31	–19	0

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Group B[]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	W+	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	France	4	3	0	1	17	15	+2	9	Advance to knockout stage
2	Uruguay	4	2	0	2	15	17	–2	6
3	Portugal	4	2	0	2	22	13	+9	6
4	United States	4	2	0	2	13	14	–1	6
5	Chile	4	1	0	3	14	22	–8	3

Note:

• Portugal, the United States and Uruguay were tied on 6 points each and one win against each other in their head-to-head records
• Uruguay progressed based on having the best goal difference in the head-to-head results (URU +1, POR 0, USA –1)

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Knockout stage[]

Semi-finals[]

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Third place play-off[]

Final[]

Winners[]

1998 Beach Soccer World Championships Champions
Brazil Fourth title

Awards[]

Top scorers
Júnior
14 goals
Best player
Júnior
Best goalkeeper
Paulo Sérgio

Final standings[]

Pos	Grp	Team	Pld	W	W+	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Final result
1	A	Brazil	6	6	0	0	52	9	+43	18	Champions
2	B	France	6	3	1	2	24	29	−5	11	Runners-up
3	B	Uruguay	6	3	0	3	22	25	−3	9	Third place
4	A	Peru	6	3	0	3	29	34	−5	9	Fourth place
5	B	Portugal	4	2	0	2	22	13	+9	6	Eliminated in the group stage
6	A	Spain	4	2	0	2	17	22	−5	6
7	B	United States	4	2	0	2	13	14	−1	6
8	A	Argentina	4	1	0	3	13	19	−6	3
9	B	Chile	4	1	0	3	14	22	−8	3
10	A	Italy	4	0	0	4	12	31	−19	0

Sources[]

• RSSSF
• Roonba