Lausanne, Switzerland, June 8, 2018 - Reigning Olympic champions Brazil look at extending their winning streak in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League to six, when they face Iran Saturday in Ufa. But the Asian side have beaten Brazil only three times in 13 previous envlunters - and not in the last four years, since the 2014 FIVB World League.
Head-to-Head
• Brazil have won 10 of their 13 matches against Iran at world level major tournaments, including each of the last four.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Brazil could equal their longest winning streak against Iran in world level major competition, as they won their first five fixtures against the Iranian team (1991-2014).
• All of Iran's victories over Brazil came at the 2014 World League, when they won three of five fixtures against the Brazilian side. Still, Brazil finished ahead of Iran in the tournament (second versus fourth).
• In September 2017, Brazil defeated Iran 3-0 at the Grand Champions Cup on their way to the title.
Iran
• Iran started their third week at the VNL with a 3-0 victory over China.
• Iran could win consecutive world level major tournament matches in straight sets for the first time since the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: 3-0 against Cuba and Egypt.
• Iran could claim three 3-0 victories at a single world level major tournament for the first time since the 2015 World League (four victories).
• Amir Ghafour scored a match-high 19 points in the victory over China. In total, he has scored 113 points in the VNL, more than any other player representing Iran.
Brazil
• With a 3-1 win over Russia, Brazil played a four setter for the first time this tournament. They had four straight wins and two matches that went on to five sets (W1-L1).
• Brazil have won their last five matches at the VNL. They can win six world level major competition matches in a row for the first time since winning eight in a row at the 2016 World League.
• Since a straight set defeat against Serbia in the 2016 World League final, Brazil have claimed a least one set in all of their 33 world level major competition matches.
• Wallace De Souza is Brazil's top scorer in the VNL. He reached a century of points by scoring 22 against Russia. He has now 102 in the VNL.