Under coach Julio Velasco, Argentina finished 11th in 2015. In 2014, they came second behind France in Pool D to finish joint-fifth in Group 2 and 13th overall. They were sixth overall a year earlier and, although they finished a disappointing 10th in 2012, were in the top five in the three editions before that. They settled for joint-11th place at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Championship in Poland. With his team now ranked No. 6 in the world by the FIVB, Velasco is targeting new highs to add to his resume after a glittering coaching career largely spent overseas.

The Argentina team made their international debut at the South American Championship in Rio de Janeiro in 1951, claiming fourth place. They competed in their first World Championship in 1960 in the same city, where they finished 11th. Since they have competed in 10 World Championships, with a bronze medal-winning campaign on home territory in 1982 being their best effort to date. Argentina also took the bronze medal at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, their highest finish in six appearances at the Olympics. They qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament winners.