FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup draw held in Dubai

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 Dubai

Fourteen of the total sixteen Dubai contenders already know which bridges they will need to overcome in the group stage of beach soccer's most prestigious competition, when on August 27 the official draw took place at Dubai's World Trade Centre.

Conducted by Joan Cusco, a member of the FIFA Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee, the draw also featured some big names from the football world. Joining France 1998 and UEFA EURO 2000 winner Christian Karembeu on the stage was Spain's hugely talented beach soccer captain Ramiro Amarelle, the adidas Golden Ball and Silver Shoe winner at Marseille 2008, and local hero Bakhit Saad, a former professional footballer and now a key member of the UAE beach soccer team.