Beach Soccer Games During Low Tights In The North Of Spain

SANTANDER, SPAIN - DECEMBER 15: Veteran football players play on the wet sand their beach soccer match of the ninth matchday of the 64th Campeonato de Futbol Playero de Santander at the Sardinero Beach on December 15, 2024 in Santander, Spain. The CD Fútbol Playero de Santander has been organizing this veteran beach soccer championship every season since 1960-1961 without interruption. The primary goal of this championship has always been to bring together the large community of football enthusiasts who gather on Santander's beaches every Sunday to enjoy their favorite sport. The championship features 16 teams, each composed of players aged 28 and older. Every team is represented by a delegate who also acts as the "owner" of a specific area of the beach, where the playing field will be set up for each matchday. The fields are marked out to measure 100 steps in length and 60 in width, with goals that are 6.20 meters wide and 2 meters high. Each team is responsible for marking and preparing their half of the field before the match. The games are played exclusively when the tide is low, as the beach provides the necessary space for the fields to be set up. As a result, the championship calendar is intricately linked to the tide schedule, with matches scheduled around the times when the receding water reveals the playing surface. Games last 90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime break. This long-standing tradition continues to unite football lovers in a unique and vibrant setting, celebrating the sport's passion in Santander's beautiful coastal environment. Over the years, the championship has attracted notable participation from former professional footballers such as Amunike, Popov, Quique Setién or Esteban Torre, who have taken part in the tournament after retiring from their professional careers. (Footage by David Ramos/Getty Images)