Brazil vs. Mexico Headlines This Weeks Soccer Action on NBC Universo

After a dramatic FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™, Soccer fever is hotter than ever, and NBC UNIVERSO will be turning-up the heat even more when its coverage of FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015™ begins tomorrow, Thurs., July 9 at 7:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 a.m. PT.

Sixteen of the world's best beach soccer teams will compete for the title of champion of this year's FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal. The tournament will feature key matchups between several of the best Latin American teams including a blockbuster game between Brazil and Mexico on Friday, July 10 at noon ET / 9:00 a.m. PT on NBC UNIVERSO.

Brazil is the most decorated nation in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup history, having won four of the seven titles. The Canarinho enter this year's tournament ranked no. 1 in the world and the favorite to win another championship. However, the road to GLORY will be met with resistance - first in the form of a determined Mexico team. Despite its relatively short beach soccer history, Mexico's National Beach Soccer Team has enjoyed success on the world stage worthy of a champion. It secured its berth in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup by winning six consecutive games during the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship and earning a third continental crown. Mexico's success on the sand can be attributed, in part, by the addition of its head coach Ramon Raya. He has made this team more of a force to be reckoned with, as evidenced by a major upset during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil in 2007 when it finished second - its best finish at this tournament - behind then-champions Brazil.

The 16 teams participating in this year's tournament are: Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Iran, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Oman, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Tahiti. Following are additional FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal matches this week on NBC UNIVERSO. To find the NBC UNIVERSO channel number in your area, please visit www.nbcuniverso.com/encuentralo.

Thurs, July 9:

• Italy vs. Costa Rica at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT
• Portugal vs. Japan at 9:00 a.m. ET / 6:00 a.m. PT
• Argentina vs. Senegal at 10:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT
• Switzerland vs. Oman at noon ET / 9:00 a.m. PT

Fri., July 10:

• Spain vs. Iran at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT
• Russia vs. Paraguay at 9:00 a.m. ET / 6:00 a.m. PT
• Tahiti vs. Madagascar at 10:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT
• Brazil vs. Mexico at noon ET / 9:00 a.m. PT

Sat., July 11:

• Oman vs. Italy at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT
• Senegal vs. Portugal at 9:00 a.m. ET / 6:00 a.m. PT
• Japan vs. Argentina at 10:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT
• Costa Rica vs. Switzerland at noon. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT

Sun., July 12:

• Mexico vs. Spain at 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT
• Madagascar vs. Russia at 9:00 a.m. ET / 6:00 a.m. PT
• Paraguay vs. Tahiti at 10:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT
• Iran vs. Brazil at noon ET / 9:00 a.m. PT

All 32 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 matches for the first time will be aired in Spanish-language to a nationwide U.S. audience across all screens. NBCDeportes.com will live stream all 32 matches, which will also be available on the NBC Deportes EN VIVO EXTRA mobile app.

Providing narration and commentary for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 include Copán Álvarez, Karim Mendiburu, as well as Guadalupe (Guad) Venegas and Ana Jurka from NBC UNIVERSO's sports show, Escena Deportiva, which airs on Mondays and Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

To learn more on beach soccer and its Latin roots from former captain of the U.S. Men's Beach Soccer National Team Francis Farberoff, click on the following links:

• Latin Roots of Beach Soccer:http://qlnk.io/ql/559d3d04e4b09a341d6b7b61
• Best of Beach Soccer: http://qlnk.io/ql/559d39a8e4b09a341d6b7b39

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