[1] Each of the 24 pairs in the tournament was placed in one of six groups of four teams apiece, and played a round-robin within that pool.

The six third-place teams were ranked against each other, with ties being broken by the ratio of points won to lost.

The 16 teams that advanced to the elimination rounds played a single-elimination tournament with a bronze medal match between the semifinal losers.

The official cut off date for Olympic qualification for beach volleyball was July 20, 2008.

The final Olympic Qualification Ranking for the 24 teams, was announced confirmed by the FIVB on July 24, 2008.

Accordingly, the #1 ranked Rogers - Dalhausser, was seeded as #2, Ricardo - Emanuel as #3, M. Araújo - Fabio Luiz as #4 and Nummerdor - Schuil as #5.

The Drawing of lots was hosted by the 1 to 1 Energy Grand Slam, in Gstaad on July 26, as part of the 2008 SWATCH FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.