The number of teams participating in the Volleyball World Championship will increase from 24 to 32, according to to place International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
The corresponding decision was approved by the organization’s board of directors. The changes apply to both men’s and women’s tournaments. 32 teams will be divided into 8 groups, the two best teams in each group will advance to the playoffs. Then the matches of the 1/8 finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals will be played.
“The FIVB is committed to providing more opportunities for national teams to participate in our main tournament by providing an excellent volleyball experience for fans around the world. The increase in the number of teams will also provide more opportunities to national teams, which are part of the Volleyball Empowerment program aimed at raising the level of national teams around the world to participate in major tournaments, said Ari Graça, head of the FIVB.
The men’s world championship went from 16 to 24 teams in 1998, the women’s championship in 2002.
Russian teams have been suspended from participating in tournaments under FIVB auspices due to the situation in Ukraine.
Source : MatchTV
