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28 March 2024

Dubai to host 'FootVolley' World Cup

Dubai is set for a date with the magic of 'FootVolley' World Cup in October. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Staff

Dubai will host the 'FootVolley' World Cup for the first time in the Midde East at the Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence from October 27 to 29, it has been announced.

It will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and under the supervision of the General Authority of Youth Welfare and Sports, Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Volleyball Federation.

FootVolley is among one of the fastest growing sports over the past few years and played according to the same field rules of beach volleyball but without using hands. The game manages to attract many international football stars especially Brazilians and most notably Romario, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho among others.

It gradually began to spread in the UAE who will enter two teams in the World Cup, while Brazil, considered the cradle of the game that was launched from its beaches in 1965, will participate with four teams. The World Cup is expected to have a total of 32 teams from 27 countries which are, along with UAE and Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, USA, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italia, England, Czech, Russia, Belgium, Estonia, France, Croatia, Portugal, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Singapore and Thailand.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Chairman of MBM Holdings, managing and marketing the event, said: “The UAE is one of the major global sport destinations as a result of the international care provided by the government for all the sport events held within the Emirate in specific and the UAE in general."

This upcoming sevent in Dubai will be the first official event of the International Volleyball Federation.

President of the UAE Volleyball Federation Amer  Ali said UAE won the title of ‘Host City’ due to its many experiences at international level and its global recognition as a sports hub within the region.”

Dubai has hosted many international events, most notably Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 and the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) Dubai 2010.

Ali, head of the Organising Committee, expressed his great delight to host the event in UAE confirming  the international prestige of the UAE and its capabilities and experiences in organising such events.

He expected the FootVolley World Cup, as well as the accompanying activities, to attract many fans. 

Dr Ahmed Al Sharif , Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, said: “We hope that the hosting of this World Cup will contribute to expand the bases of the sport’s practitioners in Dubai and in the UAE and contribute to its spread on a large scale where it can be practiced easily due to the fact that Dubai possesses many beautiful beaches which are well equipped to stage various types of physical activities. This World Cup will be a remarkable addition to the record of sport championships and events organised in the Emirate and within the UAE."

The UAE national team has participated in many international championships, most recently the competitions hosted at the beaches of El Salvador in Brazil where they were the only representatives from the Arab region.

They were drawn in a tough group which included teams from Spain, Argentina and the United States. Despite losing against Spain, UAE achieved victory over Argentina and the USA and reached the last 16 round where they met world champions Brazil.