Pool F: Brazil – United States
Head-to-head
• This will be the eighth time these teams meet at the world championships, and for the fourth successive worlds in a row. Of the previous seven, United States won four and Brazil won three.
• Brazil have won the last two meetings, in 2010 (second round) and 2006 (first group stage). Before these two Brazil wins, United States won four consecutive meetings. Their very first meeting in 1960 ended in a 3-0 win for Brazil.
• No world championship meetings between these teams ever went to five sets.
• Brazil and United States also played two matches against each other at the 2014 World Grand Prix. Brazil won both meetings, by 3-0 and 3-2.
Brazil
• On Saturday, Brazil beat Russia in a replay of the 2006 and 2010 world championship finals. The two finals were decided in Russia’s favour.
• Brazil have won 29 of their last 31 world championship matches, only losing those two finals in 2006 and 2010.
• Brazil have won at least two sets in each of their last 35 world championship matches.
• Brazil’s are undefeated against NORCECA nations in their last six attempts in the competition, with their last defeat coming against USA in the 2nd group stage in 2002.
United States
• United States won 3-0 against Serbia to maintain their maximum score. It was their fifth straight-sets win in eight matches in this world championship.
• United States registered the maximum score after eight matches for the first time in the team’s world championship history. In 2010, they won the first 10 matches, but this included two 3-2 victories.
• United States need one set to reach the mark of 250 at world championships.