The Ukrainian beach soccer team will not participate in the upcoming World Championship, which will take place from February 15 to 24, 2024, in the United Arab Emirates,reported the press service of the Ukrainian Beach Soccer Association (UBSA).

The team coached by Mykola Kostenko and Oleksandr Korniychuk secured one of four European spots, but the Belarusian national team also qualified for the tournament in Dubai.

The UBSA and the Ukrainian Football Association appealed to FIFA and BSWW requesting that the Belarusian team be disqualified from the competition as it represents a country allied with Russia's terrorist regime and is an accomplice in the military aggression against Ukraine.

However, football officials refused to do so, rejecting even the proposal for the Belarusians to play without their national symbols.

In compliance with Order No. 4435 of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine dated July 26, 2023, which prohibits participation in international competitions where athletes/teams representing the Russian federation and Belarus also participate, the Ukrainian beach soccer team will not take part in the 2024 World Championship in the UAE.