Gold, white and black compose the AVP’s logo and blanket the beach at most Tour events. But this weekend, it will be the USA’s red, white and blue clashing with Brazil’s green, yellow, white and blue at the AVP Crocs Tour World Challenge: USA vs. Brazil presented by Sanderson Ford in Glendale, Ariz.

After slight shakeups to both countries’ rosters, team entries are now finalized. Matt Olson has replaced Sean Rosenthal in the lone U.S. change and will play with 2008 Olympian Jake Gibb.

Brazil has scratched 2008 Olympic silver medalists Fábio Luiz Magalhães/Marcio Araujo and replaced them with João “Billy” Maciel/Bruno Oscar Schmidt. On the women’s side, Shaylyn Bede has replaced older sister and 2000 and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Shelda as 2004 and 2008 Olympian Ana Paula Rodrigues Connelly’s partner. Vanilda Leão/Angela Vieira have also supplanted sisters Maria Clara Salgado Rufino and Carolina Salgado.

Looking to put its best foot forward, the United States will be represented by 2008 Olympians Nicole Branagh/Elaine Youngs, 2000 Olympians Annett Davis/Jenny Johnson Jordan, 2009 FIVB World Champions Jen Kessy/April Ross, and two-time Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh on the women’s side. It will be the first professional action in more than a year for May-Treanor, who missed the first 15 events of the season while recovering an Achilles tendon injury. May-Treanor stands first all-time among women with 105 career wins.

Men slated to play for the red, white, and blue include 2008 Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser/Todd Rogers and AVP stars Gibb/Olson, John Hyden/Sean Scott, and Brad Keenan/Nick Lucena.

1996 Olympic silver medalist Mike Dodd will coach the U.S. teams.

Up against both defending Olympic gold medal-winning teams, Brazil brings stellar accolades to Glendale as well. 2004 Olympic gold medalists and 2008 Olympic bronze medalists Ricardo Santos/Emanuel Rego highlight the men’s roster, which also includes João/Bruno Oscar, 2004 Olympian Benjamin Insfran and Pedro Solberg Salgado, and Harley Marques Silva/Alison Cerutti. 2008 Olympian Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta Silva, 2008 Olympian Talita Antunes da Rocha and Maria Elisa Antonelli, Ana Paula/Shaylyn, and Vanilda/Angela will play for Brazil on the women’s side. For more information on the athletes, visit the BVBinfo Players page.

International athletes haven’t competed on U.S. soil in more than six years. Last time they did, Americans and Brazilians dominated the Sept. 18-21, 2003 FIVB grand slam event at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. May-Treanor and Walsh defeated Brazil’s Ana Paula and Sandra Pires Tavares to take home the women’s gold medal, while Brazilians Ricardo and Emanuel won men’s gold. American men Canyon Ceman and Mike Whitmarsh finished third.

This time around, the USA and Brazil will battle head-to-head for beach volleyball sovereignty. Worldwide bragging rights and a $50,000 Country Challenge prize will be on the line when the teams listed above square off in the Ryder Cup-style round-robin tournament.

A total of 36 matches, each pitting an American team against a Brazilian team, worth a collective 48 points will decide the winner of the World Challenge. 32 round-robin matches, each worth one point, will take place Friday and Saturday. Bronze medal matches worth three points each and gold medal matches worth five apiece will wrap up the showdown Sunday. The nation with the most points at the end of the event will win the Country Challenge. In the event of a 24-24 tie, the men’s gold medal match will serve as a tiebreaker.

avpTV will stream more than 10 hours live from the World Challenge. To give Americans and Brazilians alike the chance to watch live coverage, English and Portuguese feeds will be available on AVP.com. Tune in Saturday for round-robin matches from approximately 7:45 p.m.-1:30 a.m. and Sunday for medal matches from approximately 12:15-5 p.m. EDT. To start watching avpTV for free, click here.

Gold medal matches will be televised nationally on Versus Sunday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. EDT.

For session times and more information on the World Challenge, click here. To get tickets and support the stars and stripes, click here!

American and Brazilian men and women enjoy time together before beginning the World Challenge. 2009 (c) CBV/Mauricio Kaye