The stage is set and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which is set to take place in Paraguay from 21 November to 1 December, is almost upon us. The draw for the tenth edition of the Beach Soccer World Cup will take place tomorrow at 01:30 CEST (19:30 local time) at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Paraguay’s capital Asunción. The event will be broadcast live on FIFA.com and on the FIFATV YouTube channel. There are sixteen participants in total, to be divided among four groups. The teams are as follows: Japan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (AFC), Nigeria and Senegal (CAF), Mexico and the USA (CONCACAF), Brazil and Uruguay (CONMEBOL), Tahiti (OFC), Belarus, Italy, Portugal, Russia and Switzerland (UEFA) and Paraguay as hosts.

Italy – The Azzurri secured their qualification for the tournament last July in Moscow. It is their eighth time in the competition, which was established in 2005. Since 2009, it has taken place every two years. Italy, who hosted the World Cup in Ravenna in 2011, have only failed to qualify twice – in the first edition held in Rio de Janeiro in 2005 and in Tahiti in 2013. Italy are fourth in the World Rankings at present but are in the second pot of the draw owing to the fact that Paraguay, though sixth in the rankings, are hosting.

The pots – The sixteen national teams are divided into four pots based on their rankings. Pot one consists of Paraguay, Brazil, Russia and Tahiti; Pot 2: Italy, Portugal, Japan and Senegal; Pot 3: Switzerland, Mexico, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates; Pot 4: Oman, USA, Uruguay and Belarus.

Rules of the draw – As hosts, Paraguay have automatically been drawn in Group A. Similarly, Brazil have automatically been placed in Group D as reigning champions. With the exception of the UEFA nations, countries from the same federation cannot be drawn in the same group.

Schedule - The 24 matches of the four groups will be played from 21 to 26 November. Groups A and B take to the sand on Thursday 21 November, Saturday 23 November and Monday 25 November, Groups C and D will play their matches on Friday 22 November, Sunday 24 November and Tuesday 26 November. Matches will take place at the following times (Italian time): 20:15, 23:50, 23:25 and 01:00. Teams in Groups C and B will play at 20:15 and 23:25, with those in Groups A and D will kick off at 21:50 and 01:00. 27 November will be a day of rest before the quarter-finals, which take place on Thursday 28 November. The semi-finals will be played on 30 November and the final on 01 December.

Click HERE for the full match schedule