The Tahiti team headed into the tournament hoping to improve on their second-place finishes in the 2015 and 2017 editions of the event.

Their campaign suffered a difficult start as Italy delivered a strong display at the Estadio Mundialista "Los Pynandi" in Luque.

Italy emerged as comfortable 11-4 winners of the Group B encounter.

The second tie in the group proved a more cautious affair, Uruguay clinching a narrow 1-0 win over Mexico.

There was disappointment for hosts Paraguay, who were unable to begin Group A with a victory.

The South Americans suffered a dramatic 5-4 loss to Japan, their rivals scoring in the final second of a tightly fought match.

Switzerland recorded a 6-4 win over Mexico in the other Group A contest.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with Group C and D matches.

Group D will see the entrance of defending champions Brazil, the record 14-time winners of the competition.

They are scheduled to face Oman, Portugal and Nigeria in the group stage.

Group C consists of Belarus, United Arab Emirates, Senegal and Russia.

The winners and runners-up in each group will progress to the quarter-finals.

The tournament is set to conclude with the third-place match and final on December 1.