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AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup
As the city of Phang Nga prepares itself for 12 of the continent’s best teams, the-AFC.com takes a look at the cast of Group A, which features the two past champions and the hosts.
Thailand
Previous appearances: 6
2025 result: Quarter-finals
Best result: Quarter-finals
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 2
Thailand, playing hosts for the fourth consecutive time, have featured in every edition since their debut in 2013. Quarter-finalists in 2023 and 2025, the Southeast Asian side’s familiarity with home sand could see them finally claiming the podium in front of their fans.
Previous appearances: 6
2025 result: Quarter-finals
Best result: Quarter-finals
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 2
Thailand, playing hosts for the fourth consecutive time, have featured in every edition since their debut in 2013. Quarter-finalists in 2023 and 2025, the Southeast Asian side’s familiarity with home sand could see them finally claiming the podium in front of their fans.
Japan
Previous appearances: 11
2025 result: Third place
Best result: Champions (2009, 2011, 2019)
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 13
One of Asia’s leading beach soccer teams, three-time champions Japan will be eager to burnish their credentials, especially after seeing IR Iran overtake them in the overall championship tally when the Central Asian side nabbed their fourth title in 2025.
Previous appearances: 11
2025 result: Third place
Best result: Champions (2009, 2011, 2019)
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 13
One of Asia’s leading beach soccer teams, three-time champions Japan will be eager to burnish their credentials, especially after seeing IR Iran overtake them in the overall championship tally when the Central Asian side nabbed their fourth title in 2025.
Bahrain
Previous appearances: 10
2025 result: Quarter-finals
Best result: Champions (2006)
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 2
Inaugural champions Bahrain have stumbled at the last three quarter-final stages, but this could be the edition that sees the Beaches’ Red reach the heights of their glory years in 2006 and 2009, where they closed as runners-up.
Previous appearances: 10
2025 result: Quarter-finals
Best result: Champions (2006)
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 2
Inaugural champions Bahrain have stumbled at the last three quarter-final stages, but this could be the edition that sees the Beaches’ Red reach the heights of their glory years in 2006 and 2009, where they closed as runners-up.
Iraq
Previous appearances: 6
2025 result: Group Stage
Best result: Group Stage
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 0
The dark horses of the group, Iraq missed out in 2023 and finished bottom of their group in 2025. The Lions of Mesopotamia, however, featured in five consecutive editions before 2023 and will be eager to prove their worth and upset the more notable names.
Previous appearances: 6
2025 result: Group Stage
Best result: Group Stage
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearances: 0
The dark horses of the group, Iraq missed out in 2023 and finished bottom of their group in 2025. The Lions of Mesopotamia, however, featured in five consecutive editions before 2023 and will be eager to prove their worth and upset the more notable names.
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