Beach Soccer Libertadores kicks off this Sunday in Vila Velha | OneFootball

Held by the CBF, in partnership with the Espírito Santo Football Federation and the Espírito Santo Beach Soccer Federation, and organized by CONMEBOL, the 2025 edition of the Copa Libertadores de América de Beach Soccer is about to begin! Itapuã Beach, in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, will host the continent’s top club tournament from this Sunday, May 3, through May 10. There will be 12 clubs from 10 different countries, all chasing the much-dreamed-of title.

On the sand, three Brazilian teams will be responsible for keeping the country at the top of the competition, which could not be held last year due to calendar issues. Vasco da Gama, four-time champions of the tournament, Sampaio Corrêa, runners-up in 2022, and newcomers Ceilândia-DF. In addition to the teams, the Libertadores will also feature a large number of Brazilian players. And it’s all stars!

Among the Brazilian clubs, Vasco, the most successful team in the competition, is banking on the strength of its young squad, led by standout winners such as Bokinha, Jordan, and Breno Xavier. Sampaio Corrêa arrives with a roster that combines established names, such as goalkeeper Bobô, Datinha, Bruno Xavier, and Eudin, with young talents in the sport, like Alisson, Gin, and Warlison. Ceilândia, meanwhile, has its captain Luís Henrique as its main technical standout, and he will be joined by talented players who, like him, have already represented the Brazilian National Team, such as defender Paulo Marques and forward Fabrício.

Sportivo Luqueño was the team that strengthened its squad the most. It signed three-time world champions Rodrigo, Catarino, and Mauricinho, as well as Benjamin Jr., a champion in 2025, and Sikinha, the all-time top scorer in the history of Brazil’s U-20 National Team. On the coaching staff is Fabrício Santos, former head coach of the Brazilian Women’s National Team and current assistant coach to Chicão Castelo Branco on the Men’s National Team.

Another team that bet on world champions with the Seleção was Chile’s Dávila. Playing there will be Thanger, Antonio, and Lucão, as well as Portuguese-Brazilian Bê Martins, voted Best Player in the World twice (2022 and 2024), a star who was also a world champion with the Portuguese National Team. Pernambucano Filipe Silva (Guaicamacuto-VEN) and Espírito Santo native Brendo (Salud-BOL) complete the list of world champions in the competition.

The Copa Libertadores de América de Beach Soccer will feature three groups of four teams, with all teams facing each other within their group in matches to be played from May 3 to 5. May 6 will be a rest day for the entire competition, and the teams will return to the sand on May 7, when the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will face off in the quarterfinals. The following day (8) will feature only the classification matches for the lower positions. On Saturday (9), in addition to the matches for fifth and seventh place, the semifinals will be played, and on Sunday (9), the third-place match and the grand final will take place.

This will be the eighth edition of the tournament since it was created in 2016. Vasco da Gama has won it four times (2016/17/19 and 24), Vitória-BA once (2018), Presidente Hayes-PAR once (2022), and San Antonio-PAR once (2023).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.