Francis Farberoff
Brazilian-American beach soccer player and coach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francis Farberoff (born March 16, 1975) is a Brazilian-born American beach soccer coach and former player. He represented the United States from 2000 to 2014, serving as captain for eleven years and appearing in four editions of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Following his playing career, he became an assistant coach for the U.S. program before taking over as head coach of the United States national beach soccer team from 2020 to 2024, guiding the men’s team to the 2021 and 2024 World Cups and the 2023 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship title. His coaching background also includes leading the Bahamas national beach soccer team and serving as an assistant coach for the beach soccer department of CR Vasco da Gama. Farberoff is the co-founder and development director of the National Beach Soccer League and co-founder of the Futbol-Beach Soccer-Futsal Club.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francis Farberoff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | March 16, 1975 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1997 | St. Thomas University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2002 | Flamilia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Team Rio | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Seattle Sounders | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2013 | Florida Beach Soccer FC | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2014 | United States (beach) | 100+ | (18) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | United States (footvolley) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2020 | United States (beach, men, assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2023 | United States (beach, women) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2024 | United States (beach, men) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–present | Futbol-Beach Soccer-Futsal Club (president) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | NBSL (development director) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Bahamas (beach) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Vasco da Gama (beach, assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals as of 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life and education
Francis Farberoff was born on March 16, 1975, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to a Brazilian mother, Ester, and a Colombian father, Jorge, with Russian heritage through his grandfather, Moises Farberoff, who settled in Medellín, Colombia.[1] At age 16, he moved to Miami, Florida, living with his grandfather and playing beach soccer, a sport familiar from his Brazilian youth.[1] He attended St. Thomas University in Miami, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism in 1997 while playing varsity men’s soccer under coach Barry Kaplan.[2]
Playing career
International
Francis Farberoff was a longtime member of the United States Men's National Beach Soccer Team, representing the country from 2000 to 2014. Over his 14-year tenure, he earned more than 100 caps and served as team captain from 2003 to 2014.[3][4] Farberoff played in four Beach Soccer World Championships (2000-2004) and four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups: 2005, 2006, 2007 (all in Brazil), and 2013 (in Tahiti).[2] He played a key role in the United States' performances in these tournaments. He played in 7 CONCACAF tournaments, helping the U.S. win three CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships in 2006,[5] (won Group B) 2010 (won Group B),[6] and 2013[7][8] and additionally, he won the 2005 and 2007[9] CONCACAF–CONMEBOL Beach Soccer Championship (coming in at 3rd at the 2008[10] and 2010[11] and fourth in 2009[12]). At the 2006 CONCACAF Championship in Costa Rica, he was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring in the final and leading the team to a 4–3 victory over Mexico.[5][13]
Footvolley
Farberoff also participated in international footvolley competitions representing the United States. In 2006, he represented the U.S. alongside Albuquerque at an event in Thailand, and later that year teamed up with Sergio Menezes at an event in Valencia, Spain.[14]
Club
Familia
Farberoff played for Flamilia, a club team. During this early period of his club career, Farberoff contributed to Flamilia's success at the U.S. Open North American Sand Soccer Championships (NASSC), including winning the U.S. Open division titles in 2001 and 2002. back-to-back championship.[15]
Team Rio
Francis Farberoff was a member of Team Rio, which won back-to-back championships at the U.S. Open NASSC in 2005 and 2006.[16][17] Farberoff won MVP at the 2006 competition.[18]
Seattle Sounders
Farberoff played for the Seattle Sounders FC beach soccer team from 2011 to 2012, which was coached by Marcelo Mendes and competed in the 2011 and 2012 Mundialito de Clubes (Beach Soccer Club World Cup).[19] The team made it to the quarter finals in 2011 and the group stage in 2012.[19]
Corinthians
Farberoff won a Brazilian Beach Soccer Club Championship with Corinthians.[20]
Florida Beach Soccer FC
He also captained for Florida Beach Soccer FC from 2010 to 2013. The team won the U.S. Open Beach Soccer Championship at the North American Sand Soccer Championships (NASSC) in 2011 and 2012, coming in third in 2010, and were runners up in 2013.[21][22][23] The team came third at the Beach Soccer Championships in Oceanside, California.[24] The club additionally won titles at events such as the 2011 BagoSports Beach Football Invitational in Trinidad and Tobago (undefeated run) and contributed to domestic successes like the USL Major Beach Soccer national championship in Clearwater, Florida.[25][26]
Coaching career
United States
Farberoff served as assistant coach for the United States men's national beach soccer team from 2014 to 2020, including at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay.[4]
Appointed head coach of both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Beach Soccer National Teams in 2020, he led the men’s team to the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Moscow and the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai, where they lost 3–2 in extra time to the UAE.[27] In 2023, he guided the men’s team to the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship title (5–0 vs. Mexico) and a record 11–3 season.[28] He stepped down as head coach in 2024.[29]
Bahamas
In 2025, Farberoff became head coach of the Bahamas national beach soccer team, leading them to a fourth-place finish at the 2025 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in Nassau. The team lost to Guatemala in the semifinals before losing 6–2 in the third-place match against the United States.[29][30]
Vasco da Gama
Farberoff joined Vasco da Gama as assistant coach for the 2025 season, supporting the club’s beach soccer program.[29]
Other roles
Farberoff is a FIFA and CONCACAF beach soccer instructor.
He serves as the resident of Futbol-Beach Soccer-Futsal Club (FBS-FC) in Miami.[31]
Honours
Player
- United States national beach soccer team
CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship: Winner (2006, 2007, 2013); Bronze (2005, 2008, 2010)
- Club
North American Sand Soccer Championships: Winner (8 times)
Brazilian Beach Soccer Club Championship: Winner – Corinthians[20]
Coach
- United States national beach soccer team
CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship: Winner: 2023[32]
Individual
CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship MVP: 2006[33]
Other
Farberoff was named a finalist in the Veteran category for the National Soccer Hall of Fame 2025 class.[34]