Portugal is gearing up for the 2025 Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles, where they’ll face Paraguay in their opening match on Thursday at 5:30 PM Portuguese time. This is a big moment for the Portuguese team, who are looking to win their fourth World Cup title after previous victories in 2001, 2015, and 2019.
Coach Mário Narciso, a two-time World Cup winner with Portugal, is confident his team is ready. “We can expect a great effort and a strong desire to win from Portugal,” he said. “I think Paraguay will have that desire too, but I hope we’re up to the challenge.”
Portugal has been preparing for the tournament with three friendly matches. They beat Italy 5-3 and lost 4-5 in Portugal, then beat Japan in a closed-door match in Seychelles. Narciso said the Japan match was a good test. “Playing against a team that’s also here at the World Cup is always a boost,” he said. “It’s good to play against teams we’ll likely face later in the competition.”
Narciso is happy with how his team has been improving, especially on defense. “We’ve been working on our defensive game, and I’m pleased with the players’ commitment,” he said. “We’re a team that works well together, but we also have individual players who can make a difference at any moment.”
Portugal’s Group B Matchups
Portugal is in Group B with Mauritânia, Iran, and Paraguay. They’ll face Mauritânia on Saturday and Iran on Monday, both at 5:30 PM Portuguese time. Team captain Rui Coimbra, who was part of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup-winning teams, is ready to lead Portugal again. “The team is prepared, we’ve been working well, and now we’re ready to start the competition,” he said.
Coimbra has a lot of respect for Paraguay, who beat Brazil in the qualifiers before losing in the final. “They’re a very strong team, especially in one-on-one situations,” he said. “We’ll need to be careful to counter their strengths.” Coimbra is looking forward to getting back on the pitch after missing the last two matches due to injury. “It’s great to be back 100% fit and focused, ready to help the team,” he said.
Portugal’s strengths include their teamwork, physical fitness, and technical skills. Coimbra believes these will help them get a good result in their opening match. With their experience and skills, Portugal is one of the top contenders for the title.