Belarusian NOC president: Talent and hard work help achieve results

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus hosted a ceremony to honor the Belarusian national beach soccer team on 25 June.

Belarus secured the best result in the country's history winning silver at the 2025 Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles in May. In the final it fought hard until the last seconds against Brazil, the recognized favorite, the king in this sport.



President of the Belarusian NOC Viktor Lukashenko and Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk congratulated the players on their success, presented valuable gifts and cash certificates, the badges and certificates to the title "Master of Sports of International Class".

Viktor Lukashenko said that he wouldn’t call this result a surprise because the team demonstrated an outstanding game at all stages of the tournament. “Talent multiplied by hard work yields results, and our team is a vivid example of it. It is impossible to win alone. Everything was made possible thanks to the coaches, staff and fans,” Viktor Lukashenko said. “For the second time the NOC of Belarus has honored our heroes from the national beach soccer team.



Many say that Belarus created a sensation, because Belarusian athletes are not so strong in team games. I wouldn’t call it a surprise though, because we demonstrated an outstanding game at all stages of the tournament. I would like to thank FIFA for the opportunity to play featuring the country’s coat of arms and singing the country’s anthem. I am sure there are still many victories ahead. We will be supporting you.”

Belarus’ Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk stressed that beach soccer should become an example for other sports:



“The second place for Belarus is also a victory. If someone had said 20 or 30 years ago that Brazil and Belarus would play in the World Cup final, everyone would have thought it was a dream. But it became a reality.

Your hard work and discipline, the atmosphere in the team, respect for the country and fans, should be an example for our teams in handball, basketball, volleyball and other sports. We are on the right track, and such high results are all about teamwork,” Sergei Kovalchuk noted.

The minister also added that the country’s leadership together with the NOC and the Sport and Tourism Ministry decided to approve the two-year presidential scholarship for the members of the national beach soccer team.

The coaching staff of the team headed by Spanish specialist Nicolas Alvarado also received valuable gifts.

When talking to the media after the event Nicholas Alvarado expressed confidence that the Belarusian team can achieve more next time:

“A month has passed after the final. Emotions have already subsided and we can soberly assess our success. This result is incredible for us and for the whole country. However, we want more, so there is time to work and draw conclusions about what we need to do to be even better. Over my eight years of work in Belarus, I have always felt support and desire to help develop beach soccer in the country,” the head coach said.

Belarus competed in the world cup three times: 2019, 2021 and 2024. A year earlier, Team Belarus placed fourth.

In the group stage, Belarus beat Seychelles (6-3), Japan (6-3) and Guatemala (12-3). In the playoffs, the team of Belarus solved Iran (4-3) and Senegal (5-2), but lost to Brazil (3-4).

Belarus’ forward Ihal Bryshtsel, who became the top scorer of the tournament, shared his impressions:

“At the world cup the most difficult is the first match. The most emotional and difficult one was the game against Iran. They gave their best to get through. As for the final, we understood perfectly well: we already did a lot and reached the final. We knew there was nothing to worry about, we just need to get into the game. I thank the NOC of Belarus, the Sport and Tourism Ministry and the Federation for their support. We will do or best to justify the hopes of the fans,” Ihal Bryshtsel said.

Belarus’ forward Ihal Bryshtsel became the top scorer with 11 goals, and took second place in the voting for the title of the best player of the tournament.

Belarus’ goalkeeper Mikhail Augustov was named the best goalkeeper of the championship.

Press service of the Belarusian NOC

Photos by the Belarusian NOC