The National Beach Soccer Tournament to decide the best squad on the beach in the nation will have its 10th memorial event in the city of Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture from Friday 11 September to Sunday 13.

Beach Soccer got recognised as part of its governing sport by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in 2005. The game of football is played on a beach by five bear-footed players on each team in the duration of three 12-minute periods.

Since grounder passes are harder to be made on beaches, player utilise more of floating passes, which give players more chances to show acrobatic plays in front of goals such as jumping volleys and bicycle kicks.

"Players and audiences are closer to each other. Once you watch it live, you will feel the joy of the sport," says a Japanese international, GOTO Takasuke of Tokyo Lequios BS. "Once you make a visit to the court, you will fall in love with it for sure. Every time we play a tournament, I feel that more and more such people are there."

Not only individual dynamic plays, another interesting feature to see is who denies the two-time defending champions Tokyo Lequios BS from grabbing the third championship in a row.

The champions club list six national team players on its squad who competed in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 in July including Goto and MOREIRA Ozu. There is no question that they are the most favoured title contender in the upcoming tournament.

Players of the Tokyo Lequios BS, however, say “This year we haven’t been able to practice for the tournament as much as past years.” Their coach ISHIKAWA Kou also says “For the first several years after the National Beach Soccer Tournament started there were many teams just playing mini-soccer on sands.

But recently with more players playing this sport, there are more and more teams who employ well-planned tactics.” Other rival teams are ready to take the crown away from its regular holders.

Who gets to take down the dynasty of Tokyo Lequios BS at this memorial tournament? The event site of Akashi Okura Beach in Hyogo is famous for and praised by players for its good sand condition, and also used for the training camp for the national team in February this year. Come and witness the national tournament of this new emerging sport at the site on Friday 11 September.

The 10th Japan Beach Soccer Championship

Fri. 11 September - Sun. 13 September
Hyogo/Akashi Okura Beach
Match information