4. BEACH SOCCER: Ibsen leads USA in CONCACAF tourney

The inaugural CONCACAF Beach Soccer championship kicks off on Wednesday at Punta Leona in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

The tournament, which will last through Sept. 17, serving as qualification for the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Nov. 2-12 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The top two CONCACAF finishers will earn a berth at the Beach Soccer World Cup.

U.S. Beach Soccer coach Roberto Cecilian has named a 12-man roster for the five-team tournament. The USA, which opens its schedule against Canada on Wednesday, is led by former MLS player Zak Ibsen, who earned 15 caps for the U.S. national team (1992-1998).

(Click here for scouting reports in the five entrants: USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada and Jamaica.)

U.S. BEACH SOCCER ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Bayard Elfvin, Luis Montanez;
Defenders: Francis Farberoff, Joshua Hill, Zak Ibsen, Austin Roman, Brendon Taguinod.
Attackers: Benyam Astorga, Anthony Chimienti, Yuri Morales, Ronald Silva, Raphael Xexeo.