MIAMI, USA — The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) was selected by the FIFA Executive Committee at its meeting yesterday in Marrakech, Morocco, as host of the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

This marks an important landmark in the history of the Caribbean as The Bahamas will become the first country in the region to host a senior FIFA tournament.

“It is an honour and privilege for CONCACAF to welcome such an appropriate tournament to the Caribbean region,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb. “Congratulations to the Bahamas Football Association for their timely efforts in securing the bid to host the next FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. We wish them all the best in the ongoing preparations for this historic event and look forward to extending the Caribbean’s warmth and hospitality to all qualified teams in 2017.”

Led by a strong vision of development, CONCACAF has been steadily gaining presence in the international football arena by promoting the progress of its Member Associations and committing to the full range of opportunities for growth. Beach Soccer has gained increasing momentum and popularity since the first World Cup in 2005.

“This is fantastic and welcome news, not only for the football family of the BFA, but the Bahamas in general,” said Anton Sealey, President of The Bahamas Football Association. “It is unquestionably a tremendous honour and privilege to be chosen to host a FIFA competition and the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in particular. On behalf of a grateful government and people of The Bahamas, I wish to thank CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb and the FIFA Executive Committee for the confidence reposed in The Bahamas to host this prestigious event, which undoubtedly will accrue tremendous economic benefit to the country.”

The Bahamas has hosted several recent sporting events, such as the 2013 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, the 2014 International Association of Athletics Federation’s World Relays, as well as the 59th FIFA Congress in 2009.