Swamp Soccer World Championships 2006
14.-16.7.2006 Hyrynsalmi, Finland

The hardest and funniest soccer tournament on earth, The Swamp Soccer World Championships, is held in the little village of Hyrynsalmi in Finland . It takes all the strength even the most trained player has to play, sometimes also tortured by mosquitos, under blazing sun on a sinking swamp.

During the last five summers the Swamp Soccer Finnish Championships, European Championships and World Championships have been organized and held on Vuorisuo-swamp and popularity of the event has grown unbelievably rapidly. This year 278 teams in four divisions have entered the tournament, which means about 6000 players will struggle for winning the tournament on the sinking fields. Biggest part of teams are Finnish, but several teams for example from Russia, England, Spain, Belgium, Scotland, Jamaica and Germany are also participating. Many Finnish celebrities have also been invited to compete in the match for guests of honour on Friday 14th July.

The number of fields is limited by the size of the swamp area, so the stadium of Vuorisuo-swamp consists of maximum of 15 fields, each measured 60x35 metres (197x115 feet). Game duration is 25 minutes. Five players and a goalkeeper are allowed on the field at a time and a team can have maximum six substitutes per game. Standard soccer regulations apply but one essential exception, which makes the sport even harder, is that there is no offside in swamp soccer. Running and passing the ball demands not only strength but also creative game tactics. Being small and frail with big feet can also be a great advantage for a player.

Maintenance of the players works the traditional way. You can clean your bruises and bath in a pond in the middle of the swamp area. The first Drive-in Sauna Tube in the world has also been built by the pond; you just go into the Tube and pop up from the other end straight to the cool pond.

Naturally there are First Aid-staff, although the players have not been injured seriously during the tournaments before. After all, Swamp Soccer World Championships is not a dead serious sport event. The idea is that the tournament will be enjoyable and entertaining as well as to audience as to players involved.

source: Swamp Soccer World Championships