Powerhouses Mexico and El Salvador made a winning start to the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championships in Costa Rica ©CONCACAF

Mexico got their defence of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Beach Soccer Championship off to a flying start at Alajuela in Costa Rica.

The four-times winners registered a 6-3 win over Belize in their opening Group A match at Sports Complex Fedefutbol-Plycem.

Meanwhile, event debutants Dominican Republic, for whom one player and one staff member are now isolating after showing up positive for COVID-19 in the on-arrival tests, were beaten 15-1 by powerhouse El Salvador in Group B.

Inoel Navarro scored the Dominican Republic’s first goal in this event against opponents who won the second edition of this Championship in 2009 and have finished runners-up on three occasions as well as earning bronze in the last three events.

Elsewhere in Group B Guatemala beat The Bahamas 3-1 in a penalty shootout after they had drawn 3-3.

The United States, winners in 2013 and runners-up to Mexico at the last Championships in 2019, also enjoyed a successful start with an 11-1 victory over Turks and Caicos Islands in Group C.

The day’s action was concluded by the home team beating Trinidad and Tobago 5-3 in Group C.

The event, which is due to conclude on Sunday (May 23)  involves 11 CONCACAF Member Associations playing for the two slots available for the Confederation in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, due to take place in Moscow between August 19 and 29 this year.