Iran
Iran won the first leg in convincing fashion (25-19, 25-14, 25-23) and only needed to win a set or have a superior points ratio to win a berth in the World League for the first time.
Sunday’s game in front of more than 15,000 fans saw world No. 14 Iran continue to dominate. It was their sixth successive win against world No. 19 Japan dating back to last year.
The World League qualification process allows two teams the opportunity to play off for the right to play in the annual men’s competition. The bottom two teams of the previous edition must defend their places. Last weekend, Portugal, who finished 16th, lost to the Netherlands (who had earlier beaten the Dominican Republic in a first-round playoff) in two thrilling five set encounters in Rotterdam to return to the World League for the first time since 2010. Iran beat Egypt in their first-round encounter.
