Twelve teams have already secured places across the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The race for Olympic volleyball places is gathering pace, with half of the 12-team fields now confirmed in both the men’s and women’s competitions at LA 2028.
Hosts United States qualify automatically for both tournaments, while five continental qualifiers have joined them on each side.
In the men’s competition, Brazil, Cuba, Japan, Tunisia and Poland have booked their tickets to Los Angeles.
Brazil maintained its remarkable record of appearing at every Olympic volleyball tournament since the sport debuted at Tokyo 1964, qualifying by winning the South American championship in Rio de Janeiro. Poland, the Paris 2024 silver medalist, secured their place by defending the European title.
Japan earned Asia’s berth with a continental championship victory on home soil, while Tunisia qualified as African champion. Cuba will return to the Olympic stage after a 12-year absence following its success in the NORCECA qualifier.
The women’s field currently features USA, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Thailand and Turkiye.
Thailand and Egypt will both make history in Los Angeles. Thailand secured their first Olympic volleyball appearance in either gender by winning the Asian championship, while African champion Egypt qualified for the women’s tournament for the first time.
Canada is also heading back to the Games after a long absence, having last competed at Atlanta 1996.
European champion Turkiye will make a third consecutive Olympic appearance after finishing fourth at Paris 2024, while Brazil extended their run to a 13th straight Games by claiming the South American title.
Qualified for LA 2028 so far
Men: USA, Brazil, Cuba, Japan, Tunisia, Poland
Women: USA, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Thailand, Turkiye
Each LA 2028 Olympic volleyball tournament will feature 12 national teams, with the men’s and women’s competitions following the same qualification structure.
The United States receives one automatic berth as host nation, while five places are awarded through continental qualification, one each from Africa, Asia, Europe, NORCECA and South America.
That accounts for the first six teams in each tournament.
The next three berths will be awarded at the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup, going to the three highest-finishing teams that have not already qualified.
The final three Olympic places will be determined by the FIVB World Ranking following the preliminary phase of the 2028 Volleyball Nations League, completing the 12-team field.
In short: 1 host + 5 continental qualifiers + 3 World Cup qualifiers + 3 world-ranking qualifiers = 12 teams.