Football is a big deal. According to a multitude of surveys it is the most popular sport on the planet, with a hefty four billion people considering themselves followers of the beautiful game.
Football’s scope and popularity, combined with the fact that all you need to play is a ball, has resulted in the evolution of several soccer spin-offs.
These variants of the classic 22-a-side game can be enjoyed with less players and on different surfaces.
These games include five, six and seven a-side games, as well as the FIFA approved Futsal and Beach Soccer.
Beach Soccer was first sanctioned by FIFA in 2005, when it co-organised the World Cup with Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), the sport’s governing body.
The first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup took place on Copacabana Beach. The result was a huge upset, with France beating Portugal in the final. Hosts Brazil crashed out in the semi-final.
Much like its traditional counterpart, beach soccer has become hugely popular with punters as it offers a ton of betting opportunities.