Portugal beach soccer surges under Madjer’s leadership with new U‑20 and U‑15 squads and 30% rise in players

The Portuguese beach‑soccer scene is experiencing a rapid expansion, driven by the strategic direction of former legend Madjer, now national technical director of the sport. 2024 saw a 30% jump in overall participants, a 10% increase in those enrolled in training programmes and a 15% rise in female players, signalling a clear upward trajectory for the discipline.

Madjer highlighted the quantitative growth, noting that “the number of practitioners has increased” despite the recent withdrawal of historic clubs such as Sporting and Braga from the discipline. The loss of these marquee names has been offset by a proliferation of smaller, more sustainable clubs that focus exclusively on beach soccer, mirroring the model long‑established in futsal.

The federation’s commitment to decentralisation is bearing fruit. New regional clubs are emerging across the interior, supported by municipal investment in urban sand‑pitches that allow training and competition away from the coastline. “We are managing to bring beach soccer to more regions, involving more associations and clubs that never had contact with the sport because of distance from the coast,” Madjer explained.

A professionalisation push is also reshaping the domestic calendar. District championships have been lengthened and now feature a larger, more stable roster of clubs, creating a solid base for talent identification and progression.

Youth development has become a cornerstone of the strategy. The creation of a U‑20 national team, which recently captured a European title, and the launch of a U‑15 side reflect a deliberate pipeline aimed at nurturing talent from an early age, for both boys and girls.

Looking ahead, Madjer stresses the need for continued promotion of the sport’s “spectacular” nature – high‑scoring games, unpredictable results and a festive atmosphere – to attract new fans and participants. He added that sustained investment in training infrastructure and grassroots programmes will be essential to keep the growth momentum alive.

With the combination of rising participation figures, expanding club networks, and a clear focus on youth pathways, Portugal’s beach‑soccer future appears brighter than ever, positioning the nation as a model for other coastal countries seeking to professionalise the game.