Mini - Football World Cup: Second edition kicks off in Tunisia
[]
Staying with football, but downsizing somewhat, we go to Tunisia for the second edition of the Mini-football World Cup. This year, 24 teams are taking part, and despite it not being the grand stage of the beautiful game, fans firmly believe its not the size that matters. Adnen Chaouachi has more.
 
The Mini-Football World Cup kicked off in Tunisia on Friday. The North Africans beat Portugal 3-2 at opener. The Minister of Youth and Sports and ambassadors of participating countries attended the opening ceremony in the coastal city of Nabeul.
 
MOKHTAR TLILI TUNISIA COACH Mokhtar Tlili, Head Coach, Tunisia Mini-Football Team: We're happy with the positive result but the tournament has just started. We've learned from our mistakes against Portugal. Winning the 1st match gives confidence to the players and the staff. We'll face Lebanon and Libya in 2 derbies
 
On the 2nd day. Australia crushed Argentina 5 to 1. The atmosphere was very festive inside and outside the Mini-Football stadium. The seaside sporting complex was installed in less than 2 weeks.
 
ACHREF BEN SALHA HEAD OF TUNISIAN MINI-FOOTBALL Achref Ben Salha, President, Tunisian Mini-Football Federation: The level of many teams is astonishing. We're surprised. Many players are experienced. The game is in the stadium but the show is everywhere in the city
 
CLAUDIO ROZENCWAIG ARGENTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO TUNISIA Claudio Rozencwaig, Ambassador of Argentina to Tunisia: This is the spirit of Mini-Football. It gathers people from the whole world. We are all winners in sports. Everybody is happy
 
Supporters came from 5 continents. They did not only watch their teams play as thousands of fans have access to all the matches. The fans hailed Tunisia's organization of the tournament.
 
HASSAN IBRAHIM SOMALI MINI-FOOTBALL FAN Hassan Ibrahim, Somali Mini-Football Fan: The way that Tunisians are hosting this tournament is 100 percent. We are staying in the best hotels.We are getting very good hospitality. Very good welcome and we hope even next tournament Tunisia will host, I hope so
 
Top two finishers of the six groups along with the four best third-ranked teams will advance to the Round of 16 of the Mini-Football world cup. The tournament is played under tight security measures to guarantee the safety of the delegations and their fans.
 
ADNEN CHAOUACHI NABEUL, TUNISIA The Tunisian government and the Mini-Football Federation have provided all the logistical means for a successful organization of the tournament. Tunisians are glad that the coastal city of Nabeul is now the focus of local and international media outlets for hosting this international sporting event. Adnen Chaouachi. CGTN.