FIVB Volleyball World Cup Championships to 32 | Increased the number of teams competing in the men’s and women’s volleyball
FIVB Volleyball World Cup
The FIVB Volleyball World Cup has increased the number of teams competing in the men’s and women’s volleyball world championships to 32. The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB Volleyball World Cup) has decided to expand the number of men’s and women’s World Championship teams to 32. The FIVB Volleyball World Cups Board of Administration authorized the increase, which will see an additional eight countries play in each of the two events. In the round-robin round, 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, with the top two proceeding to the last-16 knockout stages under a new format that will be used next year.
The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the four best third-placed teams, advanced under the previous format. The modifications were announced on the same day as the Women’s World Championship in Poland and the Netherlands concluded, with Serbia emerging victors from a 24-strong field.
Related Stories: FIVB World Cup News.
Italy also won the men’s world championship for the fourth time last month.
“The FIVB Volleyball World Cup is eager to give additional possibilities for national teams to compete in our flagship event, the Globe Championships, while also providing fantastic volleyball spectacles for fans all around the world to watch,” FIVB President Ary Graça stated.
“The increased number of teams participating in the tournament will also provide more opportunities for national teams that are part of the revolutionary FIVB Volleyball World Cup Empowerment program, which aims to raise the level of national teams all over the world so that they can compete in major volleyball events and reach the podium.”
Will Serbia build on their historic victory in 2018?
Before the World Championship, there were various elements that put doubt on Serbia’s chances of winning the championship again: the absence of several prominent players, a new coach, a lack of gold medals in the previous three years, harder competition… Serbia, on the other hand, brushed it all off and sailed to the top of the podium without dropping a single match.
The Serbian side, led by their outstanding opponent and captain Tijana Boskovic, demonstrated some superb collaboration on the courts of the Netherlands and Poland, with everyone giving their fair part to the astounding triumph. The squad representing the southern European country lost just five sets in 12 matches. Even in the huge final versus Brazil on Saturday night in Apeldoorn, the Serbians prevailed in straight sets to take the championship.
Will Italy continue their ascension and win a third major prize in a row?
No, but they did reveal their enormous potential.
Italy won the EuroVolley championship in 2021 and the VNL title in 2022, indicating that they may be the strongest team in the world right now and earning the position of favorites ahead of the World Championship. They did not exactly live up to that reputation, but they did demonstrate their strength as a group.