Over the last decades, Brazil women’s senior national team has been undoubtedly the best team in South America, winning the Pan American Games in the past seven editions, winning 38 of the 39 matches played since 1999 and are undefeated in the Women’s South and Central American Championship, with a 13-match winning streak in the three editions played, 2018, 2021 and 2022.

But their biggest achievement will undoubtedly be the title sealed at the 2013 IHF Women’s World Championship, the second one secured by a non-European team in the world handball flagship competition. However, that generation has been slowly retiring, with only one player from that team – goalkeeper Barbara Arenhart – still in Brazil’s roster.

Since that moment, Brazil have slowly made steps backwards, finishing 18th at the 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship, but have been building up to Paris 2024, with a sixth place at the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship and a ninth place at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship.

While in their first five appearances at the Olympic Games, the South American powerhouse has always finished in the top-10, Brazil missed out on a quarter-finals berth and finished on the last place in their preliminary round group at Tokyo 2020, despite starting with a draw against the Russian Olympic Committee team and a win against Hungary.

Their three consecutive losses saw Brazil drop out of the race for the knockout phase, despite challenging Sweden, France and Spain until the end, and it marked the start of a new cycle, which coach Cristiano Rocha considers to be one that has seen an upward trend in performances for the South American side.

““I believe in this group. We have seen a huge improvement in this Olympic cycle. The players have understood our game model well and this brings confidence. In this last phase, there will be about 20 very intense days. We are going to compete in the most important competition on the planet and we need to get there very well prepared”, said Rocha.

Of course, Brazil will bring some experienced players at Paris 2024, such as Arenhart, line player Tamires Morena Lima de Araujo or superstar centre back Bruna de Paula Almeida, which won the Champions League Women with Gyori Audi ETO KC, but there are also inexperienced players in the squad, due to make their debut at the Olympics, such as Ana Cláudia Bolzan, Jhennifer dos Santos, Kelly Rosa or Micaela Rodrigues.

Brazil will have their work cut out in Group B, with strong European sides, including hosts France, Hungary, Spain and the Netherlands, while Angola are also a plucky opponent, which can cause issues to any squad. But another quarter-finals berth would be a fantastic step forward for the South American powerhouse.

Brazil

Coach: Cristiano Rocha

Key Players: Bruna de Paula Almeida (centre back), Renata de Arruda (goalkeeper), Tamires Morena Lima de Araujo (line player), Barbara Arenhart (goalkeeper)

Qualification for Paris 2024: 2023 Pan American Games: Champions

Previous appearances: 2000: 8th, 2004: 7th, 2008: 9th, 2012: 6th, 2016: 5th, 2020: 11th

Group at Paris 2024: Group B: Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, France, Brazil, Angola