BSWW World Ranking

The BSWW World Ranking is a ranking system for men's national teams in beach soccer, calculated by the sport's developmental body, Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW).[2] The rankings are currently led by Portugal[1] who have held the number one spot since March 2020.

Top 25 Rankings – March 2020[1]
RankChangeTeamPointsConfederation
1 1 Portugal4266UEFA (1)
2 1 Brazil4245CONMEBOL (1)
3 Italy3946UEFA (2)
4 Russia3923UEFA (3)
5 Iran2309AFC (1)
6 1 Spain2252UEFA (4)
7 1 Japan2105AFC (2)
8  Switzerland1994UEFA (5)
9 1 Senegal1762CAF (1)
10 1 Paraguay1677CONMEBOL (2)
11 Tahiti1653OFC (1)
12 Mexico1432CONCACAF (1)
13 Uruguay1381CONMEBOL (3)
14 United Arab Emirates1264AFC (3)
15 Belarus1154UEFA (6)
16 United States1021CONCACAF (2)
17 2 Morocco905CAF (2)
18 1 El Salvador842CONCACAF (3)
19 2 Egypt785CAF (3)
20 Oman767AFC (4)
21 2 Nigeria764CAF (4)
22 4 Argentina761CONMEBOL (4)
23 1 Ukraine751UEFA (7)
24 3 France648UEFA (8)
25 Poland647UEFA (9)
Complete rankings (of 120 teams) at beachsoccer.com
*Change since December 2019; Parentheses show the team's confederation rank

The teams (both member nations of FIFA – the sport's governing body – and non-members) are ranked using a "points-per-event system", whereby the ranking of the team in the final standings of each event they participate in awards that team a certain number of points; the teams that accumulate the most points are ranked highest.[2]

The rankings were introduced in February 2014 and are updated monthly;[3] three teams (Russia, Portugal and Brazil) have held the top position, of which Brazil have spent the longest ranked first.

The ranking system is based upon that which is used to produce the FIFA World Rankings[2] in its parent sport, association football, and since its establishment has been used for such purposes as seeding teams at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.[4]

Background

Since the 2000s, BSWW had been producing a European ranking; it was used to seed the teams in regional events. At each competition the teams played in, they earned points depending on their final position (an approach also adapted for use in the world ranking).[5]

BSWW believed creating a world ranking would help teams, national associations and fans in understanding the "reality of beach soccer".[3]

The ranking was first presented at the 2nd FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop in Dubai from 22–23 November 2013 to representatives of over 100 national associations who debated the composition of its materialisation.[3][6]

In building the initial version of the ranking, BSWW took into account "many aspects and factors" used to create the FIFA World Rankings.[7] Points earned from events over the previous five years (2009–13) were observed to include the outcomes of the three previous World Cups, therefore providing "an extensive results record and a solid criteria" for its basis; the results of over 1400 matches from ~100 events were integrated into the ranking. The weight of a team's points was reduced by 20% going back year on year.[7]

The finalised version was subsequently released on 6 February 2014;[3] for succeeding updates, the current calculation method immediately superseded the method use to create the initial ranking.[7]

Current calculation method

As of January 2019[2]

Points distribution

The teams are ranked using a "points-per-event system"; in each event they participate, the teams will earn ranking points (providing the event is sanctioned by BSWW and/or FIFA) – the number of points they earn is determined by their placement in the final standings of that event. The higher in the standings the team finishes, the more points they will earn. Runners-up receive 25% less points than the champions; for most subsequent places, they receive 20% less points than the position above.

BSWW have divided the different types of competitions on the calendar into seven tiers of prestige for the purposes of the world ranking. Higher tier events that are deemed to be the most prestigious reward teams with more points than lower tier events.

The following table shows exactly how many points a team will earn per their final position at each type of event:

Key:
Symbol Description
a) The points on offer vary for each continent due to the perceived strength of the different confederations. Strength is calculated by considering interconfederation matches at the last three FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. The confederations that win the most points on average from these matches are considered strongest and therefore receive more points in tier 2 tournaments than the weaker ones.

b) Continental championships also act as qualification tournaments to the World Cup (WC). Since the WC hosts qualify automatically, sometimes they do not compete in their respective continental championship. To compensate for their induced absence, the team is automatically awarded with a set of points – the average they have earned from their last three appearances in the championship.

♣Applies to Europe only – note that unlike any other competitions, points earned from regular season events expire from a team's ranking points total immediately after the end of the league season, not after the usual four year limit.
Category 1 events are organised by BSWW; they involve a larger number of FIFA referees, more BSWW delegates, higher stadium standards and more TV coverage than Category 2 events which are only endorsed by BSWW.
♦In the event a friendly ends in a tie, both teams receive 5 points.
—This position is never applicable to this competition.
...Continued from previous (when/if applicable).
Tier Event Points per position in final standings of event
C RU 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd ...
1 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 1750 1315 1050 840 670 540 430 345 275 220 175 140 115 115 115 115 — — — — — — —
2 Continental championships UEFA 550 415 330 265 210 170 135 110 85 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 55 55 ... ... ... ... ...
CONMEBOL 545 411 327 262 208 168 134 109 84 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 54 54 ... ... ... ... ...
OFC 539 407 323 260 206 167 132 108 83 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 54 54 ... ... ... ... ...
AFC 490 369 294 236 187 151 120 98 76 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 49 49 ... ... ... ... ...
CONCACAF; CAF 470 350 280 225 180 145 115 90 75 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 45 45 ... ... ... ... ...
3 Intercontinental Cup 450 340 270 215 175 140 110 90 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
4 Continental leagues Finals 400 300 240 190 155 125 100 90 85 80 75 75 70 70 70 70 60 60 60 60 55 55 ...
Regular
season♣		 Division A 45 35 25 20 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Division B 25 18 13 10 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
5 Continental cups & games 300 225 180 145 115 90 75 60 50 50 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
6 BSWW Tour Category 1 100 80 60 40 30 25 20 20 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Category 2 40 30 20 10 5 5 5 5 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
7 Friendly matches♦ 10 2 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Points weighting & assessment periods

Only the total points earned from the above events over the last four years (counting back from the current month) go towards the team's ranking; points older than four years expire and do not count.

The four years in question are assessed as individual twelve month periods; the total points earned during each period are weighted differently to put an emphasis on the value of points earned more recently. 100% of a team's total points gained during the last twelve months count towards their ranking. However, from the three preceding twelve month periods, only a portion of their points earned during each count towards their ranking; the portion that counts gets smaller the further back in time the period in question is which are 75%, 50% and 25% of their original points totals respectively.

This is illustrated/summarised in the table below:

For the current ranking month: May 2020 Example calculation
Time when points were earned Period assessed in current ranking % of points
total counted		 Points earned
during period		 Points counted
towards ranking
Up to 1 year ago June 2019 – May 2020 100% 500 x1.00 = 500
1 to 2 years ago June 2018 – May 2019 75% 500 x0.75 = 375
2 to 3 years ago June 2017 – May 2018 50% 500 x0.50 = 250
3 to 4 years ago June 2016 – May 2017 25% 500 x0.25 = 125
Total ranking points = 1250

World number 1 teams

Ranking leaders
Timeline of
BSWW World Ranking leaders

Three teams have been ranked world number 1, namely Russia, Portugal and Brazil. The rank leaders have roughly coincided with the team that is reigning World Cup champions during that time.

When the rankings debuted in February 2014, Russia were the inaugural world leaders, having amassing over 5000 points[3] thanks to winning the 2011 and 2013 World Cup and Euro Beach Soccer League (EBSL) titles. Portugal won the next World Cup in July 2015 and the EBSL in the August; Russia finished third in both. Despite Portugal's successes, they were not enough to knock Russia off the top spot until June 2016.[8] Portugal relinquished their world crown to Brazil in May 2017 who immediately took the number 1 ranking[9] and subsequently overtook Russia as the team longest ranked the world's best in October 2019. Portugal regained the world title in December 2019, cutting Brazil's lead to a mere 240 points, but nevertheless the South American's clung on to the number 1 spot in the immediate aftermath of the tournament.[10] Brazil's near three-year stay at the top of the ranking finally ended with the release of the March 2020 listings, with world champions Portugal replacing them at the peak, becoming the first team to spend a second spell as number 1.[11]

Only one team has peaked at number 2 without yet going on to reach the top spot which is Iran; Switzerland have peaked at number 3, the highest of any landlocked country.

Summary of world number 1 teams
Nº Team Start date End date Months Total
1  Russia January 2014 May 2016 29 29
2  Portugal June 2016 April 2017 11 11
3  Brazil May 2017 February 2020 34 34
 Portugal (2) March 2020 present 3 14

Season-end number 1

The season-end number 1 is the team which garnered the most points during the calendar year in question.

Season Team Ref.
2013  Russia
2014  Portugal
2015  Portugal
2016  Portugal
2017  Brazil
2018  Spain
2019  Portugal

Movers of the Month

Movers of the Month is a commendation bestowed by BSWW with the release of each new update to the rankings to give recognition to the team that during that month (providing that they have played) has moved up the rankings the most or the team which has gained the most points. It began with the September 2015 update when Power Horse became official sponsors of the rankings.[12]

In 2020, BSWW began awarding the commendation to teams part of the club rankings as well as national teams.

The following tables list the winners of Movers of the Month:

Key:
■ – Club team

Year Month Movers of the Month Change Ref.
2015 September  Egypt 11
October  Trinidad and Tobago 2
November  Egypt 11
December  Ivory Coast 3
2016 January  Brazil 0
February  Japan 2
March  Portugal 0
April  United Arab Emirates 2
May  England 6
June  Portugal 1
July  Brazil 1
August  Ukraine 4
September  Poland 22
October  Japan 3
November  Iran 1
December  Senegal 8
2017 January   Switzerland 1
February  Panama 38
March  United Arab Emirates 9
April  Tahiti 1
May  Brazil 2
June  France 1
July  Belarus 1
August  Iran 1
September  Russia 1
October  Mexico 0
November  Brazil 0
December  Spain 3
Year Month Movers of the Month Change Ref.
2018 January  Iran 0
February  Senegal 1
March  Brazil 0
April  Mexico 2
May  France 3
June  Portugal 0
July  Morocco 5
August  United States 8
September  Italy 1
October  Brazil 0
November  Iran 1
December  Senegal 4
2019 January  Spain 0
February  Iraq 11
March  Japan 2
April  Portugal 0
May  Mexico 8
June  Tahiti 3
July  Russia 1
August  Portugal 1
September  Ukraine 3
October  Brazil 0
November  Japan 3
December  Portugal 2
2020 January Not awarded
February Braga
■
 0
March  Portugal 1
April

Other rankings

BSWW formally published a series of new rankings to accompany the primary men's national team world rankings in December 2018, all of which were concerned purely with European sides.[13]

In November 2019, these rankings were upgraded from being only European based, to fully global rankings (save for the association ranking).[14] Unlike the men's world ranking, they are not updated monthly.[13]

Each ranking category, and the basis of each (at the release of the current issue), is listed below.

The club rankings are used to seed teams in European competitions. Similar to the UEFA coefficient's relationship with the UEFA Champions League, the association ranking is used to determine the number of clubs that qualify from each country's domestic league to the next edition of the Euro Winners Cup; better quality associations receive more berths.[15]

The following tables show the top ten in each ranking's current issue:

Key: Confederation –      AFC /      CAF /      CONCACAF /      CONMEBOL /      OFC /      UEFA

References
  1. "Beach Soccer World Ranking". Beach Soccer Worldwide. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. "Beach Soccer World Ranking Points Distribution 2019" (PDF). Beach Soccer Worldwide. January 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  3. "Beach Soccer World Ranking, presented!". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  4. "Draw Procedures FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017" (PDF). FIFA.com.
  5. "BSWW - aktuální žebříček evropských zemí 2010" (in Czech). plazovakopana.cz. 2010. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  6. "II FIFA Beach Soccer Workshop in Dubai". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  7. "BEACH SOCCER WORLD RANKING POINTS DISTRIBUTION 2014" (PDF). Beach Soccer Worldwide. 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  8. "Portugal reel in Russia to top rankings". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  9. "Movers of the Month: Brazil". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  10. "Portugal: The decade's final Movers of the Month!". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  11. "Portugal atop of the World ranking once more!". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  12. "Overall World Ranking show many changes". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  13. "Three new beach soccer rankings released!". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  14. "New beach soccer rankings released". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  15. "Новый год начался в ноябре. Что известно о календаре сезона-2019". Beach Soccer Russia. 14 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
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