Overview: While Brazil’s continental and regional dominance is secure – already this year they have won their continental championship and opening stage of the 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour – their global dominance has wavered in recent years.

However, with a galaxy of stars on the sand and a winning culture and mentality, Brazil’s men go into China 2024 as one of the favourites.

Led by ‘The Professor’ coach Antonio Guerra Peixe, who has returned to head coach duties after working with Islamic Republic of Iran at Greece 2022 (where he faced Brazil and lost 0-2), the South Americans have a trio of IHF Beach Handball Showcase players; Gil Pires, Bruno Carlos De Oliveira and Thiago de Oliveira Barcellos, plus numerous others including Renan Pinheiro and Cristiano Seben to rely on.

Greece 2022 saw Brazil complete a unique record with their third place finish – the bronze medal completed their full collection, after five golds and two silvers in their previous eight appearances. China 2024 will be their 10th appearance out of 10 editions of an IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championships, continuing their streak as one of just two nations (along with Croatia) to have appeared at every edition of the event since it debuted in 2004.

Gil Pires was named in the Greece 2022 All-star Team as best pivot, finishing seventh in the scoring list (126 points) and leading his side to a strong start, topping both their preliminary and main round groups and then dispatching China 2024 opponents 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

But Denmark got the better of them in the semi-final, the Europeans winning via shoot-out (4:6). Brazil then broke the host nation hearts, defeating Greece 2-0 for bronze.

The world championship was followed up a few weeks later by another bronze, at The World Games in the USA. Brazil again broke host nation hearts in the bronze medal match, defeating the Americans 2-0. The South American side had been defeated by Qatar in the semi-final after winning all five of their preliminary and main round games.

At their continental event this April, Brazil recorded a perfect record, winning all games 2-0, which included a 15:14, 16:8 final victory over Argentina.

This was followed up a few weeks later by taking the honours of the opening stage of the 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour on home sand with an almost perfect record, a 7:4 shoot-out win over Germany in the preliminary group, following 2-0 victories over the USA, Argentina and Uruguay.

Argentina were seen off in the semi-final 2-0 (23:16, 29:16), before Germany were dispatched for the second time, but more emphatically – 2-0 (19:16, 16:10).

Their group at China 2024 features four continents with Spain, China and Tunisia completing their quarter of teams and the experienced Bruno Carlos de Oliveira knows not to take anything lightly.

“Today, there are no easy games in Beach Handball. Every team is studying our play and because of this we have to make different (ones),” he explained to IHF.info.

“I believe this world championship will be the most difficult so far. Spain are already a traditional opponent and always an excellent match, while met Tunisia on the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour last year and they are a growing team. Playing against hosts China will be an honour and I’m happy they chose the group with us in it.”

Coach: Antonio Guerra Peixe

Key Players: Bruno Carlos de Oliveira, Gil Pires, Cristiano Seben, Thiago de Oliveira Barcellos

Qualification information: 2024 SCAHC South and Central America Beach Handball Championships – 1st

History in Tournament: 2004: 9th, 2006: 1st, 2008: 2nd, 2010: 1st, 2012: 1st, 2014: 1st, 2016: 2nd, 2018: 1st, 2022: 3rd

Group at China 2024: Group B: Brazil, People’s Republic of China, Spain, Tunisia