Currently ranked number two in the FIVB World Ranking, the USA have an impressive history in the men's game. As well as FIVB World Championship gold in 1986 in Paris, the USA have won four golds at the Pan-American Games and nine at the North, Central America & Caribbean (NORCECA) Championships (including last year following a sweep of the Dominican Republic in the final).
The USA has been a consistent presence at the World Championship since 1966 and are making their 16th appearance this year. In addition to their gold in 1986 (when they beat the USSR in the final), they also picked up a bronze in 1994 after beating Cuba 3-1 in the third-place playoff in Piraeus, Greece.
In 2015, the USA won the FIVB World Cup, their second triumph in the competition after first winning it back in 1985. Victory earned the team a direct ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and, in the bronze medal match, a dramatic, five-set comeback win over Russia secured them an incredible bronze medal. This was the USA's fifth Olympic medal, after golds at the Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988 and Beijing 2008 Games, as well as a bronze at Barcelona 1992.
The USA have won two FIVB World League gold medals. The first came in 2008, in Rio, with a 3-1 win over Serbia in the final, and the second in 2014, in Florence, following a 3-1 win over Brazil.
In the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nations League, the USA advanced to the Final Six in Lille after an 11-4 pool play record. They fell to France 3-2 in spectacular fashion in the semi-finals, but swept Brazil 3-0 to claim third place. Fans will be hoping to see their team back on the podium in Turin.