Brazil and France on Sunday scored easy victories over Japan and Canada in the second round of the group phase in the Beach Soccer World Cup, in which 16 teams face each other on the sands of Brazilian cit Rio de Janeiro's famous Copacabana beach.

Brazil now leads group A following a 9-2 victory over Poland in their first group phase game and a 10-2 victory over Japan on Sunday.

France, the current cup holder, boasts two victories in Group B: beating Spain in the first game and crushing Canada 8-1 on Sunday. Spain had previously beaten Iran 6-1 and is in second place behind France. Canada plays again on Tuesday, and must win to avoid being knocked out.

Also on Sunday, the United States beat Poland 4-2 in the most balanced match of the session. In that group only Brazil has won every game, but second place is far from clear.

In the third round in that group the United States and Japan each have a chance to win a spot in the quarter-final knockout competition; each has one victory and one loss. The U.S. faces Brazil while Japan takes on Poland.