With The Bahamas set to host the ninth edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup over a two-week period in the summer of 2017, the team is already preparing to take on some of the top teams from around the world. However, team captain Gavin Christie said their training leading up to the big show could be hindered throughout, due to the fact that the team is made up of athletes whose work schedules determine the amount of time they can spend on the field. A total of 16 teams from six football confederations from around the world will take part in the tournament, with most of the teams being made up of full-time soccer players.

“One of our major constraints is that our team is made up of young professionals. We have construction workers, bankers, and real estate agents who make up our squad,” said Christie. “It affects us because they work mostly from 9-5, but the competition that we’re playing, their job is to play football, so that’s one of the biggest hurdles that we’re trying to find a way to cross.”

The 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup will be the first FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) global sporting event to be held in The Bahamas, and will be the third global sporting event in a four-your period in The Bahamas. The tournament will be held at the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) Beach Soccer and Futsal Facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge here in New Providence. The official dates have yet to be announced.

This year, the beach soccer world cup was held at Praia da Baía in Espinho, Portugal. The host nation defeated Tahiti for the title. Prior to that, the event was held at Tahua To'ata Stadium in Papeete, Tahiti, in September 2013, and Russia won the title that year, defeating Spain in the championship match. That represented the second straight title for Russia. The beach soccer world cup is held every two years.

Team Bahamas’ last beach soccer showing was at the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) Lucayan Cup international friendly, which was also held at the facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bride here in New Providence. Team Bahamas finished the three-day tournament with a 0-2 record, falling to Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago. The latter went on to win the tournament.

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