According to data from the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), an estimated 800 million people globally play volleyball, either professionally or for fun. The game has had a remarkable rise in recent years, with volleyball now the fifth most popular sport in the world.
Most Popular Sports in the World
- Football (Soccer)
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Tennis
- Volleyball
This success is reflected in figures from USA Volleyball, who reported a 9.6% annual jump in membership numbers to over 408,000 members. A key driver has been increased investment in the sport, both in the US and globally; however, other factors are at play too.
1. Fast-Paced Game: Volleyball is an edge-of-the-seat spectacle, with diving saves, powerful spikes, unbelievable rallies and incredible athleticism. Matches rarely last more than 2 hours, which suits the attention spans of today’s modern crowds.
2. Olympic Success: The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris saw matches played in front of sell-out crowds. Regular audiences of 10,000 packed into the arena to watch the world’s best players perform.
3. Live Events: Volleyball tickets are a lot cheaper than most sports, and represent a fun and affordable family day out. The crowds are noisy too, with chants and drums creating a vibrant, fun atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.
4. Boom in Women’s Sports: The global growth of women’s sports has seen more females taking up volleyball, creating more interest in the sport and resulting in more sponsorship and record viewership for some networks.
5. Social Media: Today’s volleyball stars are easily accessible on social media and interact with fans across the world. Clips of exciting volleyball rallies or athleticism are also regularly going viral online and drawing more attention to the sport.
Volleyball in the US
Increased investment in the sport has seen growth both in professional volleyball leagues and teams around the world. In the U.S., League One Volleyball (LOVB) launched in 2024 with $100M of investment. The league aims to become the “NBA of volleyball” and franchise values are already 5x higher than in 2024. Teams from Dallas, Indianapolis, and Kansas City have been added in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) and Major League Volleyball announced plans to create a unified league called MLV. The league kicks off a new season in January 2026 and will feature the following team lineups: Atlanta Vibe, Columbus Fury, Dallas Pulse, Grand Rapids Rise, Indy Ignite, Omaha Supernovas, Orlando Valkyries, and San Diego Mojo. The best and latest volleyball odds for the new MLV season can be found at DraftKings, as well as for other sports like NFL football. Primarily, last year’s volleyball champions, The Orlando Valkyries, are expected to be the team to beat yet again.
It’s hoped that the success of these leagues can help retain domestic talent and draw star players from other leagues around the world.
Volleyball’s Global Appeal
Europe has long been a fan of volleyball, with the sport particularly popular in countries such as Poland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Italy and Serbia. Elsewhere, both China and Japan have competitive leagues, a large fan base, and well-known superstar players.
Brazil also boasts a highly competitive and well-supported league, and boasts superstar players such as Ana Patrícia and Duda Lisboa, who took home the gold medal from the 2024 Olympics for beach volleyball.
Overall, the best men’s league is widely regarded as the Italian SuperLega, whereas the best women’s league is considered to be the Sultanlar Ligi in Turkey.
FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships 2025
Running from 9-14 December, the Women’s Club World Championship returns to São Paulo. It is the first time the competition has been back to the city for 31 years. This year’s competition promises to be thrilling, with 8 of the best teams in the world competing to be crowned World Champions.
- Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde (BRA)
- Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley Conegliano (ITA)
- Savino Del Bene Scandicci (ITA)
- Dentil Praia Clube (BRA)
- Club Alianza Lima (PER)
- Zamalek Sporting Club (EGY)
- Zhetysu VC (KAZ)
- Orlando Valkyries (USA)
The current champions, Italian team Prosecco Doc Imoco Volley Conegliano, will be looking to retain their title after beating Tianjin Bohai Bank (CHINA) 3-0 in last year’s final in Hangzhou, China.
After that, it’s the men’s turn to entertain us, with eight of the world’s best clubs competing for the world crown in Belém, Brazil. The tournament takes place from 16-21 December and features the following teams:
- Vôlei Renata (BRA)
- Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA)
- Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL)
- Sada Cruzeiro (BRA)
- Praia Clube (BRA)
- Al-Rayyan Sports Club (QAT)
- Osaka Bluteon (JPN)
- Swehly Sports Club (LBA)
Current World club champions, Sada Cruzeiro, will be defending their crown after defeating Italian club Trentino Itas 3–1 last year. With the passionate Brazilian fans behind them and sell-out arenas guaranteed, they will be the team to beat once again.