Match Preview
The last three head-to-head meetings between these two sides have all featured at least four sets, with two of them going the distance in a deciding tiebreak. With a place in the semi-finals on the line, another closely contested battle could be on the cards.
Brazil Chasing Another Shot at Gold
Brazil came agonisingly close to winning the Volleyball Nations League in 2025, only to lose to Italy in the final, and they will be hoping to go one step further this week in Macau.
The South Americans finished the group stage in third place with a 9-3 record despite spending much of the campaign at the top of the standings.
Few expected them to stumble several times during Week 3, especially after opening it with victories over Japan (3-1) and Poland (3-1). Their momentum then disappeared with a shock 3-0 defeat to Thailand before another straight-set loss to the United States in the final round.
Japan Hoping For an Upset
Japan also reached the podium in last year's Volleyball Nations League, claiming the bronze medal after defeating Poland in the third-place match.
The Samurai were less convincing during the 2026 group stage but still did enough to qualify for the finals, ending the campaign in sixth place with an 8-4 record.
Their final week was inconsistent, with defeats to Brazil (3-1) and Turkey (3-1), while they also picked up victories over Thailand (3-1) and Poland (3-2).