- He dreams of leading La Roja to their first World Cup.
- He spoke about the importance of the support they will receive in Iquique.
Pablo Rodríguez is 38 years old and one of Chile’s most experienced players. As the host nation, they are aiming to qualify for their first-ever Beach Soccer World Cup.
-How much does being the host team influence your expectations?
-We have pretty high expectations. The support from the fans will be fundamental. A beautiful new infrastructure is being built. The stadium is looking spectacular, and we hope to have the backing of everyone. That would be a big boost to help us achieve our goal. We are lucky that the national team is based in Iquique. Being in our own city, with our people, our families, and friends behind us—that will be a huge emotional boost for all of us.
-How is Chile’s preparation going?
-Very strong. We are training really hard and preparing well to achieve our goal, which is to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in Chile’s history.
In 2022, Chile achieved its best-ever finish in the CONMEBOL Copa América Fútbol Playa™, but at the time, World Cup qualification was determined differently: “We still feel a sting from that. We finished third and returned to Chile. During a training session, we were told that from that moment on, Copa América would award spots for the World Cup. And we had just finished third. If that decision had been made a few months earlier, we would have been in a World Cup—something we’ve been fighting so hard for. But that’s just how life goes,” says Rodríguez, who is also a certified Physical Trainer.
-After the CONMEBOL Copa América Fútbol Playa 2023™ in Argentina, Argentino de Rosario called you to play there, and you became the first Chilean to compete in the Argentine league. Is it a tournament with a lot of exposure that opens doors?
-Absolutely. Copa América is a huge showcase. Hopefully, these opportunities will continue to come for younger players. Here in Chile, there is a lot of talent—many kids with great potential for beach soccer. A few have already gone abroad to play, and we hope more doors will open. That’s the only way for beach soccer to keep growing in South America.
-You are a goalkeeper, a position with a lot of responsibility and prominence. Before playing beach soccer, did you like playing with the ball, or were you a more traditional shot-stopping goalkeeper?
-Nowadays, beach soccer has evolved a lot. I’ve been playing this sport for many years—since 2015—and today, the goalkeeper plays a fundamental role. He has to be more involved, have good footwork, and actively participate in the game. I always tried to improve in that area. I played traditional 11-a-side football for a long time—I came through the youth system at Everton—and one of the areas I needed to improve was my footwork. Beach soccer has evolved so much that goalkeepers now have to be specialists, almost like an extra outfield player.
-What has changed in beach soccer over the 10 years you've been playing?
-Beach soccer has evolved a lot. When I watch old videos, the game was much faster and almost entirely direct play. Now, goalkeepers have less time on the ball—they can’t hold it for more than four seconds—which makes the game more dynamic. Goalkeepers are required to play more with their feet. In the past, goalkeepers could pick up the ball as many times as they wanted, enter the penalty area whenever they wished. Those rules have been adjusted to make the game faster and more dynamic, turning goalkeepers into more active players on the field.
-What kind of team will we see from Chile in the CONMEBOL Copa América Fútbol Playa™?
-We will be a very intense team. We have a mix of very young players and experienced ones. Hopefully, we can translate everything we’ve worked on in training into the tournament.
Chile will make its tournament debut against Bolivia on Saturday, February 22. Colombia, Uruguay, and Ecuador complete Group A.
