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National Team News
This was evident at this year’s postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics as well – where European teams claimed three out of the six medals at stake in Volleyball, with France and Russia securing men’s gold and silver, and Serbia finishing the women’s tournament in third place.
With Russia* and Poland guaranteed their place at the 2022 men’s Worlds as hosts and reigning champions, respectively, another eight European teams will feature in the competition. These include Italy and Slovenia as winners and runners-up of this year’s EuroVolley Men – and another six teams qualified according to the latest FIVB World Ranking. These are Olympic champions France, Serbia, the Netherlands, Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria.
The 2022 women’s World Championship co-organised by the Netherlands and Poland will feature, along with the hosts, the likes of defending champions Serbia, Italy and Turkey – who qualified by virtue of their performance at this year’s EuroVolley – and another five sides that have made the cut via the FIVB World Ranking – Russia*, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
Back in 2018, Poland claimed their second straight men’s title – with Serbia and Italy accounting for the first all-European women’s gold medal match, where Serbia secured their first global crown in history.
The 24 teams participating in the men’s competition will know how their journey is due to begin in the pool stage following the Drawing of Lots coming up on September 30 in Moscow. The FIVB and the respective organisers are still due to confirm the venue and date for the women’s DOL.
*At next year’s World Championships, Russia is due to compete under the banner of the Volleyball Federation of Russia (VFR).