The pristine sand of the Jomtien Beach Arena is set to provide the stage for the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ Thailand 2025 when it gets underway on Thursday, March 20.
 
Located in the eastern Thai city of Pattaya, which also served as hosts during the previous two occasions when the tournament was held in Thailand, the arena will welcome 16 contenders for the 11th edition.
 
Familiar faces will be on show as 13 of the cast from the previous iteration in 2023 return for another shot at glory, including reigning champions Islamic Republic of Iran and all four other former winners – Bahrain, Japan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
 
The trio of China PR, IR Iran and Japan are the only sides to appear at every tournament to date while at the other end of the spectrum, India, Indonesia and Vietnam are aiming to notch their first ever victories.
 
The top three finishers will qualify for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025 – Bahrain (2), IR Iran (8), Japan (12), Oman (5), Thailand (1) and UAE (8) are the only teams to have appeared on the global stage previously.
 
Japan are the only Asian team to feature at every FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to date – a runners-up finish in 2021 is the Continent’s best ever – and one of the first two sides in action. The joint-record three-time champions (2009, 2011, 2019), who have accrued the most wins in tournament history (35) and never placed outside the top three, reaching nine of 10 finals, will be a formidable Group B opponent for Iraq at 3.30pm. Making their sixth appearance, the latter will be hoping to progress from the Group Stage for the first time.
 
The second Group B fixture sees China PR, who twice finished fourth (2006, 2008) and reached the last eight in 2023, take on a Saudi Arabia side making their second consecutive appearance and third overall at 6.30pm.
 
A 5pm showdown kicks off Group A as Kuwait, who reached the Knockout Stage for the first time in 2023, mark their third consecutive participation and fifth overall against a Lebanon team with two fourth-placings (2015, 2017) and five previous showings – all back to back – under their belt.
 
Thailand achieved their best finish at the same venue in 2023 as they stormed to the Quarter-finals and the home side will target more progress this time on their sixth consecutive and overall involvement. Their Group A opponents at 8.30pm are India, whose only previous appearance came in 2007 – their return after 18 years ends the longest absence of any participating team.
 
The remaining four games of the first matchday take place on Friday, March 21, starting with Group C at 3.30pm. Having dethroned Japan last time out to add to their 2013 and 2017 titles, IR Iran’s bid for a fourth will see the tournament’s all-time top scorers (279 goals) take on Indonesia first. The Southeast Asians, appearing for a second consecutive time and third overall, will hope to progress to the next round for the first time.
 
At 6.30pm, two-time winners UAE (2007, 2008) make their seventh consecutive appearance and 10th overall when they face Afghanistan in their Group C opener, with the latter taking part for a fifth time and fourth in a row.
 
Champions in 2015 and third at the previous edition, Oman begin their eighth tournament campaign with a clash against Vietnam at 5pm in Group D, where the Southeast Asians are taking part for just the second time after their debut in 2015.
 
Winners of the inaugural edition in 2006, Bahrain are participating for a 10th occasion and round off the day at 8.30pm by facing Malaysia, who have racked up all four of their qualifications in a row and are eyeing a second Knockout Stage appearance. Both met in 2017, where Bahrain emerged 6-5 victors in a thriller.