MBS News Release
Friday, June 22, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – Major Beach Soccer is proud to announce that its 2011 Women’s National Champions, Peace Passers of Charlotte, North Carolina, have been chosen to represent the U.S. at 2012 Beach Soccer Montreal. Set for August 17-19 in Montreal’s 11,700-seat Uniprix Stadium, Beach Soccer Montreal will also feature women’s national teams from Brazil, Canada and Mexico competing for the title.
“We’re honored that Beach Soccer Montreal has acknowledged the MBS National Championship as the top beach soccer event in the U.S. by inviting our 2011 champion to represent the U.S. as national champions,” MBS Director Peter Mellor said. “This will be a fantastic event for the sport of beach soccer and should help to raise its profile in North America as it continues to grow in popularity worldwide.”
Beach Soccer Montreal will also feature a men’s division with Brazil, Italy, Morocco and Mexico competing for the title. The event will take place during three days: Friday August 17 through Sunday August 19. Organizers expect a crowd of close to 20,000 to enjoy the action and festivities.
"The caliber of play will surprise many,” Beach Soccer Montreal 2012 Technical Director Christian Prevost said.
The Peace Passers will enjoy some W-League reinforcements in Montreal, with Current Santa Clarita Blue Heat midfielder and beach soccer veteran Danielle Bitonti joining the roster, along with W-League Senior Director (and alum) Amanda Duffy.
During the past 10 years beach soccer has journeyed from the beaches of Brazil to be adopted by thousands of fans worldwide. Today, the sport is attracting a growing number of followers in more than 170 countries. Technical moves and mastery in the air are part of the spectacle as beach soccer experiences a meteoric rise and becomes a commercial success internationally.
FIFA organizes a Beach Soccer World Cup every two years, and the organizing committee of Beach Soccer Montreal 2012 intends to make it an annual event in the hopes of hosting the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup in Montreal. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.beachsoccermontreal.com.
USL’s Major Beach Soccer kicked off its 2012 summer tournament series June 8-10 at Daytona Beach, Fla. featuring more than 800 beach soccer players enjoying the sun and sand on Daytona Beach while competing with their teams for a spot at the MBS National Championship.
Major Beach Soccer is in its 22nd year of bringing the top beach soccer tournament action to Florida’s shores. Registration is open at www.majorbeachsoccer.com for this year’s remaining tournaments at Clearwater Beach (July 13-15) and Fort Myers Beach (August 4-5). The inaugural MBS National Championship brought the nation’s top beach soccer talent to Clearwater Beach in December of 2011, with Florida Beach Soccer FC capturing the men’s title and the Peace Passers taking home the women’s crown.