Ever-presents Brazil hope to return to golden ways

Brazil’s men are the only men’s or women’s team appearing at The World Games Chengdu 2025 to have appeared at every, single previous edition which has featured beach handball.

In 2001 they grabbed gold in Akita, Japan and followed that up with a disappointing eighth – and last spot at Duisburg 2005. However, from then on, they reset and returned in dominant fashion, winning the next three events (Kaohsiung 2009, Cali 2013 and Wroclaw 2017), only losing once in their 17 games – a preliminary group loss to Qatar in 2017.

It was the then Asian champions who denied them a shot at gold in 2022, as Brazil once again went down to Qatar, this time in the semi-final in the USA, but they bounced back to defeat the hosts to take bronze.

Most of that success came under legendary coach Antonio Guerra Peixe, who has returned to lead the team in China once more after a stint working with the Iranian Handball Federation. Peixe was not in charge in 2022 but returned last year for the world championship and once again, has returned from Asian to where he left off in what is clearly a favourite tournament for those involved with Brazilian men’s beach handball.

Brazil’s men have the longest winning in The World Games history when they won 13 consecutive games in a row, across three editions and taking gold each time.

This astonishing run – which could be beaten by Germany’s women at Chengdu 2025 saw them start with victory on 18/07/2009 against Chinese Taipei at Kaohsiung 2009 one of six wins on their way to the title. Five more wins came at Cali 2013 which ended with another gold, but their winning streak came to an end in the preliminary group against Qatar at Wroclaw 2017. However, that did not stop them taking gold once more – the loss against the Asian champions their only won in 17 games across the three competitions.

However, it is not Qatar who pose the biggest threat in 2025 to the South Americans – it is their current generational change with many of the players who were with Peixe from the very start now reaching retirement age.

One of those, the legendary Gil Pires, was not named in Peixe’s provisional squad, but the Pele, or Lionel Messi of beach handball, Bruno Carlos de Oliveria was. The specialist, who turns 40 this year, is yet again doing battle for another gold and it could be one of the last global tournaments the handball world get to see him play at – whenever he decides to hang up his vest, everyone connected with the sport can say they were lucky to witness him play over the past three decades.

Also reaching 40 in the next 12 months is goalkeeper Cristiano Seben Rossa and he represents the link between the mid-30-year-olds who have tasted many victories, like right back Nailson Amaral (35 years old) and defender Marcelo Tuller (30).

These players are now the link between that dominating winning mentality that Brazil’s men have had throughout the lifespan of the sport, with new blood like 19-year-old defender Pedro Santana, left back Rai Goncalves (20), right back Kaua Da Silva (20) and defender Kaike Batista (21) who have all been training with the squad in the lead up to Chengdu and represent the future of Brazilian men’s beach handball.

And evidence of the rocky road of adaptation came last year with Brazil’s second lowest-ever IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship finish, since their ninth-placed debut in 2004, sixth place at China 2024. That, however, was enough to see them through to Chengdu 2025.

In China 12 months ago, Brazil faced Chengdu 2025 opponents Portugal in the quarter-finals, but the Europeans had the better of the South Americans, handing them a 1-2 (15:17, 19:14, SO 8:10) loss to put them out of contention for a medal.

Brazil had started off well, with three wins from three in the Preliminary Group stage (Spain 2-1, Tunisia 2-0, China 2-0) and two 2-0 wins in the main round (Oman, Hungary) but then lost via shoot-out to Denmark 1-2 (18:14, 24:25, SO 8:9). Following that last eight loss to Portugal, Brazil defeated Hungary again, but lost to Spain – both via shoot-outs to claim sixth.

Despite that disappointment, Brazil still have one global title to their name – the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games – but they will be tested immediately in their preliminary group which features a wealth of talent.

Current world champions Croatia are in fine form and will be looking to defend their The World Games title won for the first time in 2022. The two goliaths have met four times previously at The World Games, Brazil taking a quartet of victories (2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017) and their preliminary group clash on Friday 8 August in Chengdu will showcase which team is in the better current position.

First up for the South Americans will be the Portuguese, who are making their debut, while following the Croatian clash, newly-crowned European champions Germany could provide the toughest for the Brazilians with their youthful side unexpectedly – but deservedly – winning their continental crown in July in Turkiye.

Coach: Antonio Guerra Peixe
Key players: Bruno Carlos de Oliveria (Specialist), Cristiano Seben Rossa (Goalkeeper), Matheus Medeiros (Left Back)
Qualification information: 6th – 2024 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship
History in tournament: 2001: 3rd, 2005: 8th, 2009: 1st, 2013: 1st, 2017: 1st, 2022: 3rd
Group at The World Games Chengdu 2025: Group A – Brazil, Germany, Croatia, Portugal