Doha is buzzing about sports these days, with the Golf Masters under way, the Manchester United team training here for a winter break, and now the FIFA Beach Soccer Asia Qualifiers are in town, too.

The event, which runs until this Saturday, Jan. 26th, is being held at the Katara Cultural Village.

At the qualifiers, 16 Asian nations are attempting to secure three places at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013, which will be held in Tahiti this September.

Matches are played between 2-10pm, with the first semi-final match beginning at 7pm on Friday.

On Saturday night, fans will also be treated to an exhibition match between FC Barcelona and AC Milan at 7pm, followed by the Asian Qualifier final at 8.15pm. 

There’s family entertainment in the breaks between the matches, and a fanzone with games to play, and refreshments on sale.

Curious about Beach Soccer? Here’s a description of the game from Wikipedia:

“The irregularity of the soft-sand playing surface leads to a totally different style of play than is used in association football, with a greater degree of improvisation. The compact pitch, much smaller than a normal association football pitch, allows players to score from anywhere on the sand, leading to an average of sixty attempts at goal in a single game. With an average of scoring rate of one goal every three or four minutes, around eleven goals are scored in total per game.”

Sounds like fun!

It’s completely free to attend, and you don’t need a ticket, either. 

Will you be going along?

Credit: Photo courtesy of FIFA Beach Soccer