CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship

The CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship is the premier continental beach soccer tournament for North American, Central American, and Caribbean nations. Founded in 2006, it is organized by the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in cooperation with Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW).

This independent tournament not only crowns a champion but also serves as the region’s qualifying event for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. As a result, the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship is also known as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup CONCACAF.

Initially held annually, the tournament switched to a biennial schedule in 2010 to align with the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. The competition often takes place in Spring (typically May) but has occasionally been held in June and December also.

The number of participating teams has varied over the years. Up to 2013, no more than eight countries competed, but that number increased to 10 in 2013 and then 16 for the following three editions. That figure was set at 12 teams for 2021-2023 and eight for 2025.

Teams are divided into groups, with the group structure depending on the total number of participants. Each side faces every other country in its group once, with the top two countries advancing to the knockout stage; occasionally, the best third-placed teams also qualify.

The knockout stage, which may include a quarterfinal round depending on the number of advancing teams, follows a single-elimination format through to the final, with the champion and runner-up qualifying for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Historically, Mexico and the USA have dominated the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, winning all but two tournaments until 2019. Notably, in the 2009 edition, neither of those two North American powerhouses reached the final, with El Salvador defeating Costa Rica 6-3 for the title instead.