Miscellaneous Group CEO Sham Mohammed attended the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup on Tuesday in Nassau as a guest of Beach Soccer Worldwide.

Mohammed attended the matches at the CONCACAF Qualifiers which took place from February 20th seeing Panama emerge as champions with Mexico claiming the second qualifying spot.

The Official Draw for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017, which will be played in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, between 27 April and 7 May 2017, took place on Tuesday at the Hotel Atlantis in Nassau.

Mohammed with Bahamas Beach Soccer Captain Gavin Christie and Miss Bahamas/Universe 2016 Cherell Williamson.

The draw revealed hosts Bahamas will meet Switzerland, Ecuador and Senegal in Group A.

Arguably the most intriguing quartet of teams is in Group D, where four-time champions Brazil were drawn alongside 2015 runners-up Tahiti, European champions Poland and a yet-to-be-determined AFC opponent.

The draw ceremony was held in the special presence of the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie, Prime Minister Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Assisting in the draw ceremony were FIFA Legend Emerson, the former midfielder for Brazil’s national football team and the Miss Bahamas Universe 2016 Cherell Williamson.

Mohammed with Trinidadian Assistant General Coordinator Wesley Webb.

After making his debut for Gremio in 1994, Brazil’s Emerson certainly stretched his legs around some of football’s finest institutions. Joining Bayer Leverkusen three years later, he start what was to be a glittering career in Europe. He would go on to collect Serie A titles in Italy with Roma and Juventus, win the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2007 with AC Milan and taste La Liga glory with Real Madrid.

The former midfielder was also a major presence on the international stage, representing the Auriverdes for almost 20 years and claiming a runners-up medal at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™ and the FIFA Confederations Cup 1999.

Time never stands still, though, and after hanging up his boots, the 40-year-old remains involved in football and is currently serving as a FIFA Legend. It is in this capacity that he made the trip to the Bahamas for the Official Draw for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. As you would expect, he also took advantage of his time there to sample the sand for himself. FIFA.com spoke exclusively to him about the competition, which will take place in Nassau from 27 April to 7 May, and his new role.

As a new Beach Soccer ambassador, you’ve had the chance to check out the stadium that will host the competition

Emerson: That’s right, and I think it’s a really great venue. I was really impressed by the organisation. Everyone who has been part of this project deserves to be congratulated. There’s joy in the air in the Bahamas; you can see people singing in the street and they take that good cheer down with them on to the sand. It’s similar to the Brazilian joie de vivre, that sense of happiness that is so often associated with football in my homeland.

Mohammed with Beach Soccer Worldwide Vice President Joan Cusco (right)

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 Official Draw:

Group A

Bahamas

Switzerland

Ecuador

Senegal

Group B

Nigeria

Italy

AFC 1

Mexico

Group C

AFC 2

Paraguay

Portugal

Panama

Group D

Brazil

Tahiti

AFC 3

Poland