CHICAGO (March 30, 2009) - The U.S. Beach Soccer National Team will head to Huntington Beach from April 2-5 for a training camp under new head coach Eddie Soto. Soto, who was a member of several U.S. youth national teams and the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team, took the helm of the team earlier this year.

Of the 18 players called into camp, 12 will be selected to participate at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 - CONCACAF Qualifier Puerto Vallarta from April 29-May 3 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The team will be vying for a spot at the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai from Nov. 16-22.

Soto's roster includes defender Zak Ibsen, who earned 15 full U.S. Men's National Team caps between 1992-98, and newcomer Gordan Kljestan, older brother of U.S. MNT midfielder Sacha Kljestan. The roster is stocked with U.S. Beach Soccer veterans, including 11 who participated in the 2008 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship.

It will be the last time the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be held annually, switching to a two-year cycle with the next tournament being held in 2011.

Along with the U.S., Mexico, Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica and El Salvador will be competing for a place at the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, with the draw to determine the two groups scheduled for April 22 in Puerto Vallarta.

U.S. Beach Soccer Roster By Position

GOALKEEPERS (2): Luis Montañez (Hayward, Calif.), Sergio Valle (Tracy, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (8): Benyam Astorga (Miami, Fla.), Francis Farberoff (Hollywood, Fla.), Giovanni Garcia (Miami, Fla.), Zak Ibsen (San Francisco, Calif.), Gordan Kljestan (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Jacob Long (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Austin Roman (Santa Monica, Calif.), Ronald Silva (Santa Monica, Calif.)
FORWARDS (8): Jevin Albuquerque (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Anthony Chimienti (El Dorado Hills, Calif.), Ryan Futagaki (Fountain Valley, Calif.), Jason Leopoldo (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Yuri Morales (San Francisco, Calif.), Joshua Nolz (Virginia Beach, Va.), Brendon Taguinod (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Raphael Xexeo (Lawndale, Calif.)

Pictures from Jeff Sundy of Copa Cabana attending US Beach Soccer National Team Training Camp in Huntington Beach California.