The Government of Seychelles today officially handed over the newly built Paradise Beach Soccer Arena at Roche Caiman to FIFA, ahead of the historic FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2025.

The formal handing-over ceremony was led by the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, who officially presented the Occupancy certificate to the state-of-the-art facility to the FIFA FIFA Head of Olympics, Futsal & Beach Soccer, Mr Kasra Haghighi.

In his address, President Ramkalawan expressed his profound appreciation to all stakeholders, contractors, and workers whose hard work, dedication, and collaborative spirit made the vision for the Arena a reality. "Today is a moment of immense pride for Seychelles. The Paradise Arena stands as a testament to what can be achieved through unity, determination, and a shared dream," said the President.

The ceremony also featured the unveiling of a commemorative stamp issued by the Seychelles Postal Services to mark this historic occasion. The special edition stamp celebrates Seychelles as the first African nation to host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Following the official proceedings, President Ramkalawan toured several key facilities within the Arena under the guidance of FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ Venue Manager, Mr. Gabino Renales. During his tour the Head of State interacted with teams preparing for the tournament. He had the opportunity to meet members of the Mauritania team during one of their training sessions, extending a warm Seychellois welcome and words of encouragement. He also paid a visit to the Iran team who were also at the venue. 

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2025, to be held from 1st to 11th May, promises to be a landmark event for Seychelles, showcasing not only the nation’s passion for sports but also its capacity to host major international tournaments.

Also present was the Vice-President, Mr Ahmed Afif, the Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Affairs, Mrs Marie-Celine Zialor, Minister for Land Use and Housing, Mr Billy Rangasamy, Principal Secretaries, CEOs, Members of the other Local Organizing Team and key partners and stakeholders involved with the project. 

View full photo gallery via the State House Facebook Page:

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