In 2015, world no. 1 Brazil, who also hosted the FIVB Volleyball World League Finals in Rio de Janeiro, were hoping to improve on second place finishes in 2013 and 2014. They were assured a place in the 2015 final round as hosts but failed to finish better than fifth. Brazil lost to hosts Poland in the final of the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. They were runners-up to Russia at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Brazil, however, won the 2013 South American Championship, thereby qualifying for the 2013 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup, a tournament they went on to win for the fourth time in Kyoto.

During the Bernardo 'Bernardinho' Rezende’s 15-year tenure as coach, Brazil have at times seemed unstoppable, collecting numerous trophies. Rezende led the team to the 2001 World League title in his first outing and Brazil claimed the competition in successive years from 2003 to 2007. The Brazilians won back-to-back World League titles again in 2009 and 2010, three successive titles at the World Championship (2002, 2006, 2010) and two at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup (2003 and 2007). As hosts, they are automatically qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.