The American men’s volleyball team last took the gold medal 13 years ago, but bronze medals at the 2016 Olympics and 2018 World Championships paint them as a contender at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Brazil is the defending Olympics champion while Poland has won the last two World Championships.

Olympics Betting Sites

The top five teams in the world are all listed with odds of +550 or better to claim gold in Tokyo. Overall, 10 of the top 12 teams in the World Rankings are in the Olympics tournament, including host Japan ranked No. 11.

Olympics Format for 2020

The entire volleyball tournament will take place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The round-robin group stage begins on Saturday, July 24, and ends on Sunday, August 1. The knockout round begins on Tuesday, August 3, and the Gold Medal Match is scheduled for Saturday, August 7.

Group A will include the host Japan team along with Poland, Italy, Canada, Iran, and Venezuela. Group B consists of Brazil, the United States, Russia, Argentina, France, and Tunisia. The top four from each group will make the quarterfinals.

Team Great Britain Olympics Preview

History of Men’s Volleyball at the Olympics

Brazil took the gold on home soil at the 2016 Olympics, sweeping Russia in the semifinals and Italy in the finals. Italy beat the United States in the semifinals 3-2, and USA beat Russia 3-2 for the bronze. Brazil actually lost to Italy and the USA in group play, finishing fourth in Group A, before going 3-0 in the knockout round to claim gold.

Russia took gold at the 2012 Olympics in London with a finals win over Brazil, and Italy won bronze. The United States beat Brazil for the gold in 2008 as Russia won bronze. Brazil has played in the finals of the last four Olympics with two golds and two silvers.

Brazil and Poland Are Favorites

Brazil is ranked No. 1 in the FIVB World Rankings as of May 30, with Poland ranked right behind them. The United States, Russia, and France round out the top five.

The Polish are the betting favorites at +240, just ahead of Brazil and Russia, who are both +325. Poland is in by far the easier group, with only Italy as a top seven betting team. One of the top seven in odds won’t make the knockout round as Brazil, Russia, USA (+550), France (+550), and Argentina (+5500) are all in Group B.

Poland won the 2018 FIVB World Championships held in Italy and Bulgaria. They knocked off the United States 3-2 in the semifinals and beat Brazil 3-0 in the final for their third World Championship. Bartosz Kurek was the tournament MVP with 171 points and Pawel Zatorski named Best Libero.

Despite their success at the Worlds, the Olympics have been another story for Poland. They were swept 3-0 in the quarterfinals in both 2016 and 2012 and haven’t medaled since winning gold in 1976.

Brazil has made the finals of four straight Olympics and five straight World Championships. Douglas Souza and Lucas Saatkamp were on the All-Tournament Team at the 2018 World Championships. Souza led the tournament with a 56.58 percent attack rate and finished with 150 points.

Read OurExpert Betting Guides

United States A Contender

Matt Anderson led the USA with 163 points at the World Championships, ranking second behind Kurek. He is back for a third Olympics and has led the team in scoring since 2011. Aaron Russell was fourth with 150 points, and Micah Christenson was named Best Setter, joining Anderson on the All-Tournament Team.

Eight of the 12 players on Team USA were part of the 2016 team, and head coach John Sparrow is back as well. Middle blocker Matt Smith is on his third Olympics team, and Taylor Sander led the 2016 Olympics in receptions.

Overall Odds to Win Gold

Poland +240

Brazil +325

Russian OC +325

United States +550

France +550

Italy +900

Argentina +5500

Canada +6000

Iran +6000

Japan +6000

Venezuela +600000

Tunisia +900

Read our softball Olympics preview and men’s basketball Olympics preview.