Lausanne, Switzerland, July 8, 2017 - North American rivals USA and Canada clash for the 2017 FIVB World League bronze medal Saturday in Curitiba, after both lost their semifinals Friday to Brazil and France respectively. The two sides have only met once before in the history of the World League and that was earlier this season when Canada beat USA in five sets. Canada also won in pool play at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, before USA went on win the bronze. USA are in their third World League bronze medal match, having beaten Poland on both previous occasions, in 2007 in Katowice and in 2015 in Rio de Janeiro.
Head-to-Head• United States and Canada have met only once before in the World League, in this year's group phase when Canada won 3-2.
• Bradley Robert Gunter (CAN) and Benjamin Patch (USA) were their team's top scorer in that match, each scoring 17 points.
• The previous meeting between these teams in a major competition took place at Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Canada won in straight sets in the pool phase, but United States went on to win the bronze medal.
United States• United States can finish on the podium in the World League for the sixth time. They have won it twice, finished runners-up once and finished third on two occasions.
• United States won both World League bronze finals in which they appeared, in 2007 and 2015.
• Last season, United States came fifth. They have not finished outside the World League podium in back-to-back World League seasons since 2009, 2010 and 2011.
• Taylor Sander is joint-top scorer in these finals on 56 points, equal to Stephen Boyer (FRA).
Canada• Canada are already sure of their best result in the World League as their previous best finish was a fifth place in 2013.
• Canada are looking to become the third NORCECA team to claim a medal in the World League, after United States (G2-S1-B3) and Cuba (G1-S5-B3).
• Canada's last nine matches alternated between wins and losses: L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W-L. If this streak continues they will win bronze.
• Tyler Sanders leads the setters in the finals with an average of 7.1.