Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 7, 2016 - Two North American giants will face each other on the first competition day of the men’s volleyball tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. In the last Pool A encounter on Sunday, USA and Canada will lock horns aiming at a good start in Brazil.
The United States were the second team to book a place at the Games after hosts Brazil. They did so by winning the FIVB Volleyball World Cup in Japan last year. Canada, on the other hand, were the second-to-last team to qualify for Rio. The Canadians claimed the third Olympic ticket available at the FIVB Volleyball World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo earlier this year.
USA have played at the Olympics 10 times, missing out on three editions only – from 1972 through 1980. They have won the gold medals three times – at home at Los Angeles 1984, at Seoul 1988 and at Beijing 2008. They also have one bronze, from Barcelona 1992. At the last Olympics in London, USA finished fifth.
Canada’s best Olympic finish was the fourth place at Los Angeles 1984. They also played at their home Games in Montreal in 1976, as well as at Barcelona 1992.
USA shut out Canada at FIVB Volleyball World Cup 2015. On September 10, in Hiroshima, they claimed a 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-17) victory over their northern neighbours. Most recently, the two sides met in a quarterfinal match at the 2016 Pan American Cup. On May 24 in Mexico City, the Canadians achieved a 3-1 (26-24, 26-28, 25-19, 31-29) win.