DUBAI // As the sun sets over the palm-lined coves of Mamzar Beach Park, fathers play games with their sons while mothers and daughters paddle in the sea.

In the midst of this tranquil scene, a practice match is being played that is anything but a walk in the park.

In less than a month these players, all members of the UAE national beach soccer squad, will step from this sandy idyll into a 6,000-capacity stadium and the international spotlight.

Looking on is the national team coach, Brazil-born Marcelo Mendes, 38. He greets every stray pass and fumble with the stern rebuke “there must be no mistakes” echoing in his players’ ears.

“We have been building towards this tournament for two years,” he said.

“The players have been released from their jobs for the last six weeks and are being paid a subsistence grant by the Government so that I can work with them in an intensive preparation programme.”

The sport originated in Brazil but beach soccer was formally founded by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) in 1992 and the first World Cup took place in 1995 in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2005 the world governing body of football, Fifa, became a partner and the sport has seen a rapid growth globally since.

From 1995 to 2007 the World Cup was held annually in Rio de Janeiro. In response to the sport’s global appeal, Fifa and BSWW then decided to hold the finals in different countries. Last year they took place in Marseilles, France.

Beach soccer is now played in more than 170 countries and is recognised as the world’s fastest growing sport.

Since the inception of the World Cup, Brazil have won all but two finals: in 2001, Portugal took the crown and in 2005 France won with a team headed by the enigmatic French ex-footballer Eric Cantona, a former English Premier League superstar with Leeds and Manchester United.

The UAE beach soccer team will not find success at this year’s finals easy to achieve, with Brazil, Portugal and Spain starting as favourites.

But Mr Mendes believes the competition can produce the sort of high-profile upset that could see the UAE become a respected nation in the game.

“There is a greater chance of success [in beach soccer rather than football] because the games are shorter and there is a history of unexpected results. We recently defeated Brazil, the best team in the world. It is a realistic target for us to be in the top five in the world within five years,” he said.

That at least would give home fans some relief from the frustration of seeing the national football team struggle on the world stage.

Targeting the world top five also sets out a blueprint for the future development of the game in the UAE.

“The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has invested for the long term. There are plans to run a programme to recruit and train local coaches and in 2010 we aim to start a professional UAE Beach Soccer League,” said Mr Mendes.

According to Salah Talak, tournament director for the Beach Soccer World Cup and board member of the DSC, the success of the tournament will be measured by the legacy it leaves as much as how the team performs.

“It is one of the DSC’s objectives to professionalise the sport. Discussions have been held on creating a league and expanding the number players throughout every Emirate. ”

The Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup will be held at Umm Suqeim Beach from November 16 to 22 and Fifa expects up to 40,000 spectators to attend.

Tickets for the event are now on sale online for Visa card holders only until October 31 at www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup/index.html. From November 1, tickets can be bought using other major credit cards. Main Pitch prices range from Dh195 to Dh395 for the VIP stand and up to Dh100 for the grandstand. Entry to Pitch 2 is free.

The UAE’s first opponents will be Portugal, followed by Uruguay and the Solomon Islands. If they progress, they are expected to face Brazil in the semi-finals.