In a historic move, the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) Board of Administration has unveiled its ambitious international volleyball calendar for 2025-2028. The groundbreaking announcement includes holding the FIVB Volleyball World Championships biannually and aligning it with the pre-Olympic year, a change set to transform the competitive landscape of the sport.
This shift is part of a broader FIVB initiative aimed at reimagining the international volleyball experience. The new schedule seeks to balance the demands of spectators, athletes, and stakeholders, aiming for a more streamlined, engaging, and athlete-friendly program.
The FIVB Volleyball World Championships will see significant expansion. The tournament will now host 32 teams per gender, up from the previous limit, offering a more inclusive competition. Both men’s and women’s events will adhere to an improved formula, wherein teams will be divided into eight groups during the round-robin phase, with the top two teams from each group proceeding to the knockout phase.
The qualifying process has also been revamped. Alongside the host nation and the reigning World Champion, the top three teams from each Continental Championship will qualify. Additional slots will be filled based on the FIVB World Rankings at the end of the national team season preceding the World Championship.
Subject to International Olympic Committee approval, these changes will also impact the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games’ qualification process. The host nation, the Continental Championships winners, the top three teams from the 2027 World Championships, and the three highest-ranked teams per World Ranking will secure their spots in the competition.
A special working group led by FIVB 2nd Executive Vice-President Aleksandar Boričić (CEV President), FIVB Board of Administration member and the FIVB Athletes’ Commission President Madelein Meppelink, and FIVB Board of Administration member and FIVB General Director Fabio Azevedo, will finalize the specific dates of the FIVB Volleyball Calendar 2025-2028.
The bidding process for the upcoming World Championships has been scheduled as follows: August 2023 for the 2025 event, April 2024 for the 2027 event, and August 2024 for the 2029 event.
This is a new era for international volleyball, promising more thrilling games, a more inclusive environment, and a bright future for the sport. Stay tuned as we explore what these changes mean for the volleyball world and its fans.
