Tahiti beach soccer team

Tahiti beach soccer team making winning start in Dubai

Tournament favourites Brazil had a resounding 11-1 win against the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, in the other Group A encounter.

In Group B, Iran beat the USA 6-2 while Russia prevailed 10-6 over Egypt.

Swiss national team coach Angelo Schirinzi, who led the Tiki Toa to a fourth-placed finish at the 2013 World Cup, is back in charge of the new-look Tiki Toa squad for the week.

"We have new players there, we have the best players injured like (Heimanu Taiarui)," he said.