SOCCA World Cup 2024 - The review

Review and Outlook for a Potential Austrian Participation in 2025 in Mexico

The SOCCA World Cup 2024 was held in October in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, and proved to be a significant international tournament in the field of small-sided football. Over 40 nations participated, making the event both a sporting and organizational highlight. Matches were played in the 6-a-side format, which has grown in popularity worldwide in recent years.

The tournament was organized by the International Socca Federation (ISF), with Oman providing a professional and well-structured setting for players, teams, and officials. Matches were played under floodlights and in front of international audiences, accompanied by media coverage and global livestreams.

Sporting excellence was on display from teams across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Defending champions Brazil reaffirmed their strong position, while emerging teams from Eastern Europe and the Arab world also left strong impressions. In addition to competitive performance, the tournament also focused on intercultural exchange and global sporting camaraderie.

SOCCA Austria, a newly established national body for small-sided football in Austria, has been following these developments with great interest. The 2023 World Cup in Oman demonstrated the professional and international standards to which this sport is now held, and highlighted the growing importance of this football format on the world stage.

The next SOCCA World Cup will take place in November 2025 in Cancún, Mexico. As an emerging association, we aim to fulfill the necessary qualifications in order to represent Austria at the tournament for the first time. Preparations are underway, including the development of organizational structures, the planning of scouting tournaments, and the formation of a competitive national team.

Participation in a future SOCCA World Cup would mark a significant milestone for our association and for Austrian small-sided football in general. It would also serve as an important step toward gaining international visibility and contributing to the global growth of the sport.