FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship
Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:44:57 AM Wikipedia source
The FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship is an international volleyball competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport's global governing body. The initial gap between championships was variable, but since 1962, they were held every four years. The tournament will be held biennially starting in 2025. The current champion is Italy, who won their fifth title at the 2025 tournament, defeating Bulgaria in the final. The current format of the competition involves a qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase, which is often called the World Championship Finals. The former format was 24 teams, including the automatically qualifying host nation(s), compete in the tournament phase for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month. The 21 World Championship tournaments have been won by seven different national teams: the Soviet Union six times; Italy five times; Brazil and Poland three times each; Czechoslovakia twice; and East Germany and the United States, once each.
Infobox
Sport
Volleyball
Founded
1949; 76 years ago (1949)
First season
1949
CEO
Ary Graça
No. of teams
32 (finals)
Continent
World (FIVB)
Most recentchampions
Italy(5th title)
Most titles
Soviet Union(6 titles)
Streaming partner
Volleyball TV (since 2018)
Official website
Volleyball World Championship
Tables
CAVB (Africa)
CAVB (Africa)
Confederation
CAVB (Africa)
Slots 2022
2
AVC (Asia and Oceania)
AVC (Asia and Oceania)
Confederation
AVC (Asia and Oceania)
Slots 2022
2
CEV (Europe)
CEV (Europe)
Confederation
CEV (Europe)
Slots 2022
2
NORCECA (North America)
NORCECA (North America)
Confederation
NORCECA (North America)
Slots 2022
2
CSV (South America)
CSV (South America)
Confederation
CSV (South America)
Slots 2022
2
World ranked non-qualified teams
World ranked non-qualified teams
Confederation
World ranked non-qualified teams
Slots 2022
12
Total
Total
Confederation
Total
Slots 2022
24 (22+H+C)
| Confederation | Slots 2022 |
| CAVB (Africa) | 2 |
| AVC (Asia and Oceania) | 2 |
| CEV (Europe) | 2 |
| NORCECA (North America) | 2 |
| CSV (South America) | 2 |
| World ranked non-qualified teams | 12 |
| Total | 24 (22+H+C) |
CAVB (Africa)
CAVB (Africa)
Confederation
CAVB (Africa)
Slots 2025–
3
AVC (Asia and Oceania)
AVC (Asia and Oceania)
Confederation
AVC (Asia and Oceania)
Slots 2025–
3
CEV (Europe)
CEV (Europe)
Confederation
CEV (Europe)
Slots 2025–
3
NORCECA (North America)
NORCECA (North America)
Confederation
NORCECA (North America)
Slots 2025–
3
CSV (South America)
CSV (South America)
Confederation
CSV (South America)
Slots 2025–
3
World ranked non-qualified teams
World ranked non-qualified teams
Confederation
World ranked non-qualified teams
Slots 2025–
15
Total
Total
Confederation
Total
Slots 2025–
32 (30+H+C)
| Confederation | Slots 2025– |
| CAVB (Africa) | 3 |
| AVC (Asia and Oceania) | 3 |
| CEV (Europe) | 3 |
| NORCECA (North America) | 3 |
| CSV (South America) | 3 |
| World ranked non-qualified teams | 15 |
| Total | 32 (30+H+C) |
· Results summary
Champions
Champions
Year
Champions
Host
Score
Col 3
Runners-up
Final
3rd place
Final
Score
Final
4th place
1949Details
1949Details
Year
1949Details
Host
Czechoslovakia
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–1)
Final
Czechoslovakia
Final
Bulgaria
Col 7
Round-robin(3–1)
3rd place match
Romania
3rd place match
10
1952Details
1952Details
Year
1952Details
Host
Soviet Union
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–0)
Final
Czechoslovakia
Final
Bulgaria
Col 7
Round-robin(3–1)
3rd place match
Romania
3rd place match
11
1956Details
1956Details
Year
1956Details
Host
France
Col 3
Czechoslovakia
Final
Round-robin(3–2)
Final
Romania
Final
Soviet Union
Col 7
Round-robin(3–1)
3rd place match
Poland
3rd place match
24
1960Details
1960Details
Year
1960Details
Host
Brazil
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–0)
Final
Czechoslovakia
Final
Romania
Col 7
Round-robin(3–1)
3rd place match
Poland
3rd place match
14
1962Details
1962Details
Year
1962Details
Host
Soviet Union
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–0)
Final
Czechoslovakia
Final
Romania
Col 7
Round-robin(2–3)
3rd place match
Bulgaria
3rd place match
21
1966Details
1966Details
Year
1966Details
Host
Czechoslovakia
Col 3
Czechoslovakia
Final
Round-robin(3–1)
Final
Romania
Final
Soviet Union
Col 7
Round-robin(3–0)
3rd place match
East Germany
3rd place match
22
1970Details
1970Details
Year
1970Details
Host
Bulgaria
Col 3
East Germany
Final
Round-robin(3–2)
Final
Bulgaria
Final
Japan
Col 7
Round-robin(3–0)
3rd place match
Czechoslovakia
3rd place match
24
1974Details
1974Details
Year
1974Details
Host
Mexico
Col 3
Poland
Final
Round-robin(3–2)
Final
Soviet Union
Final
Japan
Col 7
Round-robin(3–1)
3rd place match
East Germany
3rd place match
24
1978Details
1978Details
Year
1978Details
Host
Italy
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
3–0
Final
Italy
Final
Cuba
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
South Korea
3rd place match
24
1982Details
1982Details
Year
1982Details
Host
Argentina
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
3–0
Final
Brazil
Final
Argentina
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
Japan
3rd place match
24
1986Details
1986Details
Year
1986Details
Host
France
Col 3
United States
Final
3–1
Final
Soviet Union
Final
Bulgaria
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
Brazil
3rd place match
16
1990Details
1990Details
Year
1990Details
Host
Brazil
Col 3
Italy
Final
3–1
Final
Cuba
Final
Soviet Union
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
Brazil
3rd place match
16
1994Details
1994Details
Year
1994Details
Host
Greece
Col 3
Italy
Final
3–1
Final
Netherlands
Final
United States
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Cuba
3rd place match
16
1998Details
1998Details
Year
1998Details
Host
Japan
Col 3
Italy
Final
3–0
Final
Yugoslavia
Final
Cuba
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Brazil
3rd place match
24
2002Details
2002Details
Year
2002Details
Host
Argentina
Col 3
Brazil
Final
3–2
Final
Russia
Final
France
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
Yugoslavia
3rd place match
24
2006Details
2006Details
Year
2006Details
Host
Japan
Col 3
Brazil
Final
3–0
Final
Poland
Final
Bulgaria
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Serbia and Montenegro
3rd place match
24
2010Details
2010Details
Year
2010Details
Host
Italy
Col 3
Brazil
Final
3–0
Final
Cuba
Final
Serbia
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Italy
3rd place match
24
2014Details
2014Details
Year
2014Details
Host
Poland
Col 3
Poland
Final
3–1
Final
Brazil
Final
Germany
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
France
3rd place match
24
2018Details
2018Details
Year
2018Details
Host
Italy / Bulgaria
Col 3
Poland
Final
3–0
Final
Brazil
Final
United States
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Serbia
3rd place match
24
2022Details
2022Details
Year
2022Details
Host
Poland / Slovenia
Col 3
Italy
Final
3–1
Final
Poland
Final
Brazil
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Slovenia
3rd place match
24
2025Details
2025Details
Year
2025Details
Host
Philippines
Col 3
Italy
Final
3–1
Final
Bulgaria
Final
Poland
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Czech Republic
3rd place match
32
2027Details
2027Details
Year
2027Details
Host
Poland
Final
–
Col 7
–
3rd place match
32
2029Details
2029Details
Year
2029Details
Host
Qatar
Final
–
Col 7
–
3rd place match
32
| Year | Host | Final | 3rd place match | Teams | |||||||
| Champions | Score | Runners-up | 3rd place | Score | 4th place | ||||||
| 1949Details | Czechoslovakia | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–1) | Czechoslovakia | Bulgaria | Round-robin(3–1) | Romania | 10 | |||
| 1952Details | Soviet Union | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–0) | Czechoslovakia | Bulgaria | Round-robin(3–1) | Romania | 11 | |||
| 1956Details | France | Czechoslovakia | Round-robin(3–2) | Romania | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–1) | Poland | 24 | |||
| 1960Details | Brazil | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–0) | Czechoslovakia | Romania | Round-robin(3–1) | Poland | 14 | |||
| 1962Details | Soviet Union | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–0) | Czechoslovakia | Romania | Round-robin(2–3) | Bulgaria | 21 | |||
| 1966Details | Czechoslovakia | Czechoslovakia | Round-robin(3–1) | Romania | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–0) | East Germany | 22 | |||
| 1970Details | Bulgaria | East Germany | Round-robin(3–2) | Bulgaria | Japan | Round-robin(3–0) | Czechoslovakia | 24 | |||
| 1974Details | Mexico | Poland | Round-robin(3–2) | Soviet Union | Japan | Round-robin(3–1) | East Germany | 24 | |||
| 1978Details | Italy | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Italy | Cuba | 3–1 | South Korea | 24 | |||
| 1982Details | Argentina | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Brazil | Argentina | 3–0 | Japan | 24 | |||
| 1986Details | France | United States | 3–1 | Soviet Union | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Brazil | 16 | |||
| 1990Details | Brazil | Italy | 3–1 | Cuba | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Brazil | 16 | |||
| 1994Details | Greece | Italy | 3–1 | Netherlands | United States | 3–1 | Cuba | 16 | |||
| 1998Details | Japan | Italy | 3–0 | Yugoslavia | Cuba | 3–1 | Brazil | 24 | |||
| 2002Details | Argentina | Brazil | 3–2 | Russia | France | 3–0 | Yugoslavia | 24 | |||
| 2006Details | Japan | Brazil | 3–0 | Poland | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Serbia and Montenegro | 24 | |||
| 2010Details | Italy | Brazil | 3–0 | Cuba | Serbia | 3–1 | Italy | 24 | |||
| 2014Details | Poland | Poland | 3–1 | Brazil | Germany | 3–0 | France | 24 | |||
| 2018Details | Italy / Bulgaria | Poland | 3–0 | Brazil | United States | 3–1 | Serbia | 24 | |||
| 2022Details | Poland / Slovenia | Italy | 3–1 | Poland | Brazil | 3–1 | Slovenia | 24 | |||
| 2025Details | Philippines | Italy | 3–1 | Bulgaria | Poland | 3–1 | Czech Republic | 32 | |||
| 2027Details | Poland | – | – | 32 | |||||||
| 2029Details | Qatar | – | – | 32 | |||||||
· Medals summary
1
1
Rank
1
Nation
Soviet Union
Gold
6
Silver
2
Bronze
3
Total
11
2
2
Rank
2
Nation
Italy
Gold
5
Silver
1
Bronze
0
Total
6
3
3
Rank
3
Nation
Brazil
Gold
3
Silver
3
Bronze
1
Total
7
4
4
Rank
4
Nation
Poland
Gold
3
Silver
2
Bronze
1
Total
6
5
5
Rank
5
Nation
Czechoslovakia
Gold
2
Silver
4
Bronze
0
Total
6
6
6
Rank
6
Nation
United States
Gold
1
Silver
0
Bronze
2
Total
3
7
7
Rank
7
Nation
East Germany
Gold
1
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
1
8
8
Rank
8
Nation
Bulgaria
Gold
0
Silver
2
Bronze
4
Total
6
9
9
Rank
9
Nation
Cuba
Gold
0
Silver
2
Bronze
2
Total
4
Romania
Romania
Rank
Romania
Nation
0
Gold
2
Silver
2
Bronze
4
11
11
Rank
11
Nation
Netherlands
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
0
Total
1
Russia
Russia
Rank
Russia
Nation
0
Gold
1
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Rank
Yugoslavia
Nation
0
Gold
1
Silver
0
Bronze
1
14
14
Rank
14
Nation
Japan
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
2
Total
2
15
15
Rank
15
Nation
Argentina
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
France
France
Rank
France
Nation
0
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Germany
Germany
Rank
Germany
Nation
0
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Serbia
Serbia
Rank
Serbia
Nation
0
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Totals (18 entries)
Totals (18 entries)
Rank
Totals (18 entries)
Nation
21
Gold
21
Silver
21
Bronze
63
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 6 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
| 2 | Italy | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Poland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Czechoslovakia | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | United States | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | East Germany | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Bulgaria | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 9 | Cuba | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Romania | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 11 | Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Russia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Yugoslavia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 14 | Japan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | Argentina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| France | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Germany | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Serbia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (18 entries) | 21 | 21 | 21 | 63 | |
· Hosts
3
3
Times hosted
3
Nations
Italy
Year(s)
1978, 2010, 2018*
Poland
Poland
Times hosted
Poland
Nations
2014, 2022*, 2027
2
2
Times hosted
2
Nations
Argentina
Year(s)
1982, 2002
Brazil
Brazil
Times hosted
Brazil
Nations
1960, 1990
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Times hosted
Bulgaria
Nations
1970, 2018*
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Times hosted
Czechoslovakia
Nations
1949, 1966
France
France
Times hosted
France
Nations
1956, 1986
Japan
Japan
Times hosted
Japan
Nations
1998, 2006
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Times hosted
Soviet Union
Nations
1952, 1962
1
1
Times hosted
1
Nations
Greece
Year(s)
1994
Mexico
Mexico
Times hosted
Mexico
Nations
1974
Philippines
Philippines
Times hosted
Philippines
Nations
2025
Qatar
Qatar
Times hosted
Qatar
Nations
2029
Slovenia
Slovenia
Times hosted
Slovenia
Nations
2022*
| Times hosted | Nations | Year(s) |
| 3 | Italy | 1978, 2010, 2018* |
| Poland | 2014, 2022*, 2027 | |
| 2 | Argentina | 1982, 2002 |
| Brazil | 1960, 1990 | |
| Bulgaria | 1970, 2018* | |
| Czechoslovakia | 1949, 1966 | |
| France | 1956, 1986 | |
| Japan | 1998, 2006 | |
| Soviet Union | 1952, 1962 | |
| 1 | Greece | 1994 |
| Mexico | 1974 | |
| Philippines | 2025 | |
| Qatar | 2029 | |
| Slovenia | 2022* |
· Most successful players › Multiple gold medalists
1
1
Rank
1
Player
Marco Bracci
Country
Italy
From
1990
To
1998
Gold
3
Silver
–
Bronze
–
Total
3
Dante Amaral
Dante Amaral
Rank
Dante Amaral
Player
Brazil
Country
2002
From
2010
To
3
Gold
–
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Ferdinando De Giorgi
Ferdinando De Giorgi
Rank
Ferdinando De Giorgi
Player
Italy
Country
1990
From
1998
To
3
Gold
–
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Andrea Gardini
Andrea Gardini
Rank
Andrea Gardini
Player
Italy
Country
1990
From
1998
To
3
Gold
–
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Andrea Giani
Andrea Giani
Rank
Andrea Giani
Player
Italy
Country
1990
From
1998
To
3
Gold
–
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Gilberto "Giba" Godoy Filho
Gilberto "Giba" Godoy Filho
Rank
Gilberto "Giba" Godoy Filho
Player
Brazil
Country
2002
From
2010
To
3
Gold
–
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Rodrigo Santana
Rodrigo Santana
Rank
Rodrigo Santana
Player
Brazil
Country
2002
From
2010
To
3
Gold
–
Silver
–
Bronze
3
8
8
Rank
8
Player
Josef Musil
Country
Czechoslovakia
From
1952
To
1966
Gold
2
Silver
3
Bronze
–
Total
5
9
9
Rank
9
Player
Bohumil Golián
Country
Czechoslovakia
From
1956
To
1966
Gold
2
Silver
2
Bronze
–
Total
4
Vyacheslav Zaytsev
Vyacheslav Zaytsev
Rank
Vyacheslav Zaytsev
Player
Soviet Union
Country
1974
From
1986
To
2
Gold
2
Silver
–
Bronze
4
| Rank | Player | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Marco Bracci | Italy | 1990 | 1998 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| Dante Amaral | Brazil | 2002 | 2010 | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| Ferdinando De Giorgi | Italy | 1990 | 1998 | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| Andrea Gardini | Italy | 1990 | 1998 | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| Andrea Giani | Italy | 1990 | 1998 | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| Gilberto "Giba" Godoy Filho | Brazil | 2002 | 2010 | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| Rodrigo Santana | Brazil | 2002 | 2010 | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| 8 | Josef Musil | Czechoslovakia | 1952 | 1966 | 2 | 3 | – | 5 |
| 9 | Bohumil Golián | Czechoslovakia | 1956 | 1966 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
| Vyacheslav Zaytsev | Soviet Union | 1974 | 1986 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
· Most successful players › Multiple medalists
1
1
Rank
1
Player
Josef Musil
Country
Czechoslovakia
From
1952
To
1966
Gold
2
Silver
3
Bronze
–
Total
5
2
2
Rank
2
Player
Bohumil Golián
Country
Czechoslovakia
From
1956
To
1966
Gold
2
Silver
2
Bronze
–
Total
4
Vyacheslav Zaytsev
Vyacheslav Zaytsev
Rank
Vyacheslav Zaytsev
Player
Soviet Union
Country
1974
From
1986
To
2
Gold
2
Silver
–
Bronze
4
4
4
Rank
4
Player
Jaromír Paldus
Country
Czechoslovakia
From
1949
To
1960
Gold
1
Silver
3
Bronze
–
Total
4
5
5
Rank
5
Player
Bruno Rezende
Country
Brazil
From
2010
To
2022
Gold
1
Silver
2
Bronze
1
Total
4
Lucas Saatkamp
Lucas Saatkamp
Rank
Lucas Saatkamp
Player
Brazil
Country
2010
From
2022
To
1
Gold
2
Silver
1
Bronze
4
7
7
Rank
7
Player
Gheorghe Corbeanu
Country
Romania
From
1956
To
1966
Gold
–
Silver
2
Bronze
2
Total
4
Eduard Derzsei
Eduard Derzsei
Rank
Eduard Derzsei
Player
Romania
Country
1956
From
1966
To
–
Gold
2
Silver
2
Bronze
4
Horaţiu Nicolau
Horaţiu Nicolau
Rank
Horaţiu Nicolau
Player
Romania
Country
1956
From
1966
To
–
Gold
2
Silver
2
Bronze
4
| Rank | Player | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Josef Musil | Czechoslovakia | 1952 | 1966 | 2 | 3 | – | 5 |
| 2 | Bohumil Golián | Czechoslovakia | 1956 | 1966 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
| Vyacheslav Zaytsev | Soviet Union | 1974 | 1986 | 2 | 2 | – | 4 | |
| 4 | Jaromír Paldus | Czechoslovakia | 1949 | 1960 | 1 | 3 | – | 4 |
| 5 | Bruno Rezende | Brazil | 2010 | 2022 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Lucas Saatkamp | Brazil | 2010 | 2022 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 7 | Gheorghe Corbeanu | Romania | 1956 | 1966 | – | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Eduard Derzsei | Romania | 1956 | 1966 | – | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Horaţiu Nicolau | Romania | 1956 | 1966 | – | 2 | 2 | 4 |