Tahiti Beach Soccer team with some Brazilian players after their friendly match in Rio. Photo: Supplied to OFC Media
The captain of the Tahiti men's beach soccer team says they are heading into the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai this week confident of a better finish following their one-month training stint in Brazil.
The Tiki Toa has led the way for Oceania on the world stage in Beach Soccer, continuously punching above their weight, with runner-up finishes at the 2015 World Cup in Portugal and 2017 World Cup in the Bahamas, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) said.
Raimana Li Fung Kuee told OFC the team has had the time to acclimitise to the temperature, learn new skills and play friendly games against different teams and players.
He said the time in Brazil "was amazing" and "like a dream".
"We make some friendly games against some different players from Brazil. It was very hard for us because they are strong, they're very fast. But I think the team has progressed well and I think we are ready for this world cup."
He said they are in a tough pool with matches against Argentina, Spain and Iran.
"There are very good teams you have Argentina, Spain, Iran, so it will be hard for us. In a world cup every team is difficult to play. But we play our game," Raimana said told OFC.
"We are just novice, in Iran and Spain they are professional, but we have already beaten them. Spain at the last World Cup, and we have beaten Iran and Argentina. So yeah, we can do it again.
"The two teams who pass this group, I think they go to the final, or the four last teams.
The 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be the 12th edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
The Tiki Toa had runner-up finishes at the 2017 World Cup in the Bahamas and the 2015 World Cup in Portugal. Photo: Fédération Tahitienne de Football via TNTV
-OFC
Group stage games
- Tahiti v Argentina 17:00 | Thursday 15 February
- Tahiti v Spain 17:00 | Saturday 17 February
- Tahiti v Iran 21:00 | Monday 19 February