Elvis Chetty, chairman of the Seychelles Football Federation, says Seychelles is one of five nations bidding to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2023.
Bidding for the host began in October and will end in March 2022. Colombia, Bahrain, Thailand, are also bidding.
“We are very serious in our bid,” Elvis Chetty, chairman of the Seychelles Football Federation, said.
“That is why we have recruited a top professional in the field of tournament bidding, a man who successfully bid for the 2010 FIFA world cup in South Africa.”
Seychelles would become one of the top beach soccer destinations if the project is successful. The Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, hosted the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) beach soccer tournament in 2015.
“We are confident that we will be successful in our bid to host the World Cup, and that if we obtain it, it will be huge for Seychelles. We will have international recognition and be in the sporting spotlight,” Chetty concluded.
The government pledged to support the Federation in hosting the tournament, which will bring more visibility to the island nation with worldwide coverage.
A successful bid will require new infrastructure, a demountable stadium will be built, and after the games it will be sent to La Digue and Praslin to develop sport on those islands.
Seychelles’ last international tournament was earlier this year, when the team traveled to South Africa to compete in the COSAFA Beach Soccer tournament. However, Seychelles was not able to win any matches.
The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2023 will be the 12th edition. FIFA’s member associations compete among themselves in this premier international beach soccer competition.
If Seychelles wins the bid, the team will be among the 16 nations competing in the tournament and a lot of work will need to be done to give the local side a chance against some of the giants in the sport.
“We are at the moment looking into an intensive development programme where we will be trying to get the best out of our team and be ready for the tournament,” said Chetty.
He said that this plan will go ahead regardless of whether or not Seychelles wins the bid.
Russia is the defending champions, while Brazil has won the tournament a record five times.