Lausanne, Switzerland, September 10, 2017 – USA are the first opponent of hosts Japan in the 2017 FIVB Men's World Grand Champions Cup. The two teams will close the first competition day in Nagoya on Tuesday. This will be their fourth encounter in the history of the World Grand Champions Cup.
Head-to-Head
• These nations will meet for the fourth time at the World Grand Champions Cup. USA won two of the previous three meetings in the competition.
• USA beat Japan 3-1 at both the 2013 and 2005 World Grand Champions Cup. In the 1993 edition, USA lost to the hosts by 1-3.
• Japan have lost each of their last 17 competitive matches against USA, since the 3-1 win at the 1993 World Grand Champions Cup.
Japan
• As hosts, Japan have been present at all previous six editions of the World Grand Champions Cup.
• Their best result came in 2009, when Japan finished in third place behind Cuba and winners Brazil.
• Japan have lost 21 matches at the World Grand Champions Cup, at least 12 more than any other team (Egypt are on 9 defeats in the competition).
• Japan have lost their last seven World Grand Champions Cup matches, including six in straight sets.
• Japan's last win in the competition came on November 21, 2009, when they beat Iran in five sets.
USA
• USA will make their fourth appearance at the World Grand Champions Cup and their second in a row.
• In 2005, USA finished runners-up behind winners Brazil, their best finish ever in the competition.
• USA have lost three of their last four World Grand Champions Cup matches. The only exception in that run was the five-set victory over Italy in 2013.
• Only Egypt (9) and Japan (21) have lost more matches at the World Grand Champions Cup than USA (8).