FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:22:29 PM Wikipedia source
The FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship is an international volleyball competition contested by the senior women'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 1970 they have been awarded every four years. Starting in 2025, the tournament is held biennially. The current champions are Italy, which won their second title at the 2025 tournament in Thailand. 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. 32 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 20 World Championship tournaments have been won by eight different national teams. Soviet Union have won five times. The other World Championship winners are Japan and Cuba, with three titles each; China, Italy, Russia and Serbia, with two titles each; and the United States, with one title.
Infobox
Sport
Volleyball
Founded
1952; 73 years ago (1952)
First season
1952
CEO
Ary Graça
No. of teams
32 (Finals)
Continent
World (FIVB)
Most recentchampions
Italy(2nd title)
Most titles
Soviet Union(5 titles)
Streaming partner
Volleyball TV (since 2018)
Official website
volleyballworld.com/women
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
1952Details
1952Details
Year
1952Details
Host
Soviet Union
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–0)
Final
Poland
Final
Czechoslovakia
Col 7
Round-robin(3–2)
3rd place match
Bulgaria
3rd place match
8
1956Details
1956Details
Year
1956Details
Host
France
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–2)
Final
Romania
Final
Poland
Col 7
Round-robin(3–2)
3rd place match
Czechoslovakia
3rd place match
17
1960Details
1960Details
Year
1960Details
Host
Brazil
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–1)
Final
Japan
Final
Czechoslovakia
Col 7
Round-robin(3–0)
3rd place match
Poland
3rd place match
10
1962Details
1962Details
Year
1962Details
Host
Soviet Union
Col 3
Japan
Final
Round-robin(3–1)
Final
Soviet Union
Final
Poland
Col 7
Round-robin(3–0)
3rd place match
Romania
3rd place match
14
1967Details
1967Details
Year
1967Details
Host
Japan
Col 3
Japan
Final
Round-robin(3–0)
Final
United States
Final
South Korea
Col 7
Round-robin(3–0)
3rd place match
Peru
3rd place match
4
1970Details
1970Details
Year
1970Details
Host
Bulgaria
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
Round-robin(3–1)
Final
Japan
Final
North Korea
Col 7
Round-robin(3–2)
3rd place match
Hungary
3rd place match
16
1974Details
1974Details
Year
1974Details
Host
Mexico
Col 3
Japan
Final
Round-robin(3–0)
Final
Soviet Union
Final
South Korea
Col 7
Round-robin(3–1)
3rd place match
East Germany
3rd place match
23
1978Details
1978Details
Year
1978Details
Host
Soviet Union
Col 3
Cuba
Final
3–0
Final
Japan
Final
Soviet Union
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
South Korea
3rd place match
23
1982Details
1982Details
Year
1982Details
Host
Peru
Col 3
China
Final
3–0
Final
Peru
Final
United States
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Japan
3rd place match
23
1986Details
1986Details
Year
1986Details
Host
Czechoslovakia
Col 3
China
Final
3–1
Final
Cuba
Final
Peru
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
East Germany
3rd place match
16
1990Details
1990Details
Year
1990Details
Host
China
Col 3
Soviet Union
Final
3–1
Final
China
Final
United States
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Cuba
3rd place match
16
1994Details
1994Details
Year
1994Details
Host
Brazil
Col 3
Cuba
Final
3–0
Final
Brazil
Final
Russia
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
South Korea
3rd place match
16
1998Details
1998Details
Year
1998Details
Host
Japan
Col 3
Cuba
Final
3–0
Final
China
Final
Russia
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
Brazil
3rd place match
16
2002Details
2002Details
Year
2002Details
Host
Germany
Col 3
Italy
Final
3–2
Final
United States
Final
Russia
Col 7
3–1
3rd place match
China
3rd place match
24
2006Details
2006Details
Year
2006Details
Host
Japan
Col 3
Russia
Final
3–2
Final
Brazil
Final
Serbia and Montenegro
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
Italy
3rd place match
24
2010Details
2010Details
Year
2010Details
Host
Japan
Col 3
Russia
Final
3–2
Final
Brazil
Final
Japan
Col 7
3–2
3rd place match
United States
3rd place match
24
2014Details
2014Details
Year
2014Details
Host
Italy
Col 3
United States
Final
3–1
Final
China
Final
Brazil
Col 7
3–2
3rd place match
Italy
3rd place match
24
2018Details
2018Details
Year
2018Details
Host
Japan
Col 3
Serbia
Final
3–2
Final
Italy
Final
China
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
Netherlands
3rd place match
24
2022Details
2022Details
Year
2022Details
Host
Netherlands / Poland
Col 3
Serbia
Final
3–0
Final
Brazil
Final
Italy
Col 7
3–0
3rd place match
United States
3rd place match
24
2025Details
2025Details
Year
2025Details
Host
Thailand
Col 3
Italy
Final
3–2
Final
Turkey
Final
Brazil
Col 7
3–2
3rd place match
Japan
3rd place match
32
2027Details
2027Details
Year
2027Details
Host
United States / Canada
Final
–
Col 7
–
3rd place match
32
2029Details
2029Details
Year
2029Details
Host
Philippines
Final
–
Col 7
–
3rd place match
32
| Year | Host | Final | 3rd place match | Teams | |||||||
| Champions | Score | Runners-up | 3rd place | Score | 4th place | ||||||
| 1952Details | Soviet Union | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–0) | Poland | Czechoslovakia | Round-robin(3–2) | Bulgaria | 8 | |||
| 1956Details | France | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–2) | Romania | Poland | Round-robin(3–2) | Czechoslovakia | 17 | |||
| 1960Details | Brazil | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–1) | Japan | Czechoslovakia | Round-robin(3–0) | Poland | 10 | |||
| 1962Details | Soviet Union | Japan | Round-robin(3–1) | Soviet Union | Poland | Round-robin(3–0) | Romania | 14 | |||
| 1967Details | Japan | Japan | Round-robin(3–0) | United States | South Korea | Round-robin(3–0) | Peru | 4 | |||
| 1970Details | Bulgaria | Soviet Union | Round-robin(3–1) | Japan | North Korea | Round-robin(3–2) | Hungary | 16 | |||
| 1974Details | Mexico | Japan | Round-robin(3–0) | Soviet Union | South Korea | Round-robin(3–1) | East Germany | 23 | |||
| 1978Details | Soviet Union | Cuba | 3–0 | Japan | Soviet Union | 3–1 | South Korea | 23 | |||
| 1982Details | Peru | China | 3–0 | Peru | United States | 3–1 | Japan | 23 | |||
| 1986Details | Czechoslovakia | China | 3–1 | Cuba | Peru | 3–1 | East Germany | 16 | |||
| 1990Details | China | Soviet Union | 3–1 | China | United States | 3–1 | Cuba | 16 | |||
| 1994Details | Brazil | Cuba | 3–0 | Brazil | Russia | 3–1 | South Korea | 16 | |||
| 1998Details | Japan | Cuba | 3–0 | China | Russia | 3–1 | Brazil | 16 | |||
| 2002Details | Germany | Italy | 3–2 | United States | Russia | 3–1 | China | 24 | |||
| 2006Details | Japan | Russia | 3–2 | Brazil | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–0 | Italy | 24 | |||
| 2010Details | Japan | Russia | 3–2 | Brazil | Japan | 3–2 | United States | 24 | |||
| 2014Details | Italy | United States | 3–1 | China | Brazil | 3–2 | Italy | 24 | |||
| 2018Details | Japan | Serbia | 3–2 | Italy | China | 3–0 | Netherlands | 24 | |||
| 2022Details | Netherlands / Poland | Serbia | 3–0 | Brazil | Italy | 3–0 | United States | 24 | |||
| 2025Details | Thailand | Italy | 3–2 | Turkey | Brazil | 3–2 | Japan | 32 | |||
| 2027Details | United States / Canada | – | – | 32 | |||||||
| 2029Details | Philippines | – | – | 32 | |||||||
· Medals summary
1
1
Rank
1
Nation
Soviet Union
Gold
5
Silver
2
Bronze
1
Total
8
2
2
Rank
2
Nation
Japan
Gold
3
Silver
3
Bronze
1
Total
7
3
3
Rank
3
Nation
Cuba
Gold
3
Silver
1
Bronze
0
Total
4
4
4
Rank
4
Nation
China
Gold
2
Silver
3
Bronze
1
Total
6
5
5
Rank
5
Nation
Italy
Gold
2
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Total
4
6
6
Rank
6
Nation
Russia
Gold
2
Silver
0
Bronze
3
Total
5
7
7
Rank
7
Nation
Serbia
Gold
2
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
2
8
8
Rank
8
Nation
United States
Gold
1
Silver
2
Bronze
2
Total
5
9
9
Rank
9
Nation
Brazil
Gold
0
Silver
4
Bronze
2
Total
6
10
10
Rank
10
Nation
Poland
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
2
Total
3
11
11
Rank
11
Nation
Peru
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Total
2
12
12
Rank
12
Nation
Romania
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
0
Total
1
Turkey
Turkey
Rank
Turkey
Nation
0
Gold
1
Silver
0
Bronze
1
14
14
Rank
14
Nation
Czechoslovakia
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
2
Total
2
South Korea
South Korea
Rank
South Korea
Nation
0
Gold
0
Silver
2
Bronze
2
16
16
Rank
16
Nation
North Korea
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
1
Total
1
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Rank
Serbia and Montenegro
Nation
0
Gold
0
Silver
1
Bronze
1
Totals (17 entries)
Totals (17 entries)
Rank
Totals (17 entries)
Nation
20
Gold
20
Silver
20
Bronze
60
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Cuba | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | China | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Russia | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | Serbia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | United States | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 9 | Brazil | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 10 | Poland | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Peru | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Romania | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Turkey | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 14 | Czechoslovakia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| South Korea | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 16 | North Korea | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (17 entries) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 60 | |
· Hosts
5
5
Times hosted
5
Nations
Japan
Year(s)
1967, 1998, 2006, 2010, 2018
3
3
Times hosted
3
Nations
Soviet Union
Year(s)
1952, 1962, 1978
2
2
Times hosted
2
Nations
Brazil
Year(s)
1960, 1994
1
1
Times hosted
1
Nations
Bulgaria
Year(s)
1970
Canada
Canada
Times hosted
Canada
Nations
2027*
China
China
Times hosted
China
Nations
1990
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Times hosted
Czechoslovakia
Nations
1986
France
France
Times hosted
France
Nations
1956
Germany
Germany
Times hosted
Germany
Nations
2002
Italy
Italy
Times hosted
Italy
Nations
2014
Mexico
Mexico
Times hosted
Mexico
Nations
1974
Netherlands
Netherlands
Times hosted
Netherlands
Nations
2022*
Peru
Peru
Times hosted
Peru
Nations
1982
Philippines
Philippines
Times hosted
Philippines
Nations
2029
Poland
Poland
Times hosted
Poland
Nations
2022*
Thailand
Thailand
Times hosted
Thailand
Nations
2025
United States
United States
Times hosted
United States
Nations
2027*
| Times hosted | Nations | Year(s) |
| 5 | Japan | 1967, 1998, 2006, 2010, 2018 |
| 3 | Soviet Union | 1952, 1962, 1978 |
| 2 | Brazil | 1960, 1994 |
| 1 | Bulgaria | 1970 |
| Canada | 2027* | |
| China | 1990 | |
| Czechoslovakia | 1986 | |
| France | 1956 | |
| Germany | 2002 | |
| Italy | 2014 | |
| Mexico | 1974 | |
| Netherlands | 2022* | |
| Peru | 1982 | |
| Philippines | 2029 | |
| Poland | 2022* | |
| Thailand | 2025 | |
| United States | 2027* |
· Most successful players › Multiple gold medalists
1
1
Rank
1
Player
Lyudmila Buldakova (Meshcheryakova)
Country
Soviet Union
From
1956
To
1970
Gold
3
Silver
1
Bronze
–
Total
4 *
2
2
Rank
2
Player
Aleksandra Chudina
Country
Soviet Union
From
1952
To
1960
Gold
3
Silver
–
Bronze
–
Total
3
Militiya Yeremeyeva (Kononova)
Militiya Yeremeyeva (Kononova)
Rank
Militiya Yeremeyeva (Kononova)
Player
Soviet Union
Country
1952
From
1960
To
3
Gold
–
Silver
–
Bronze
3
4
4
Rank
4
Player
Liliya Konovalova (Kalenik)
Country
Soviet Union
From
1956
To
1962
Gold
2
Silver
1
Bronze
–
Total
3
Mireya Luis
Mireya Luis
Rank
Mireya Luis
Player
Cuba
Country
1986
From
1998
To
2
Gold
1
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Katsumi Matsumura
Katsumi Matsumura
Rank
Katsumi Matsumura
Player
Japan
Country
1962
From
1970
To
2
Gold
1
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Lyudmila Mikhaylovskaya
Lyudmila Mikhaylovskaya
Rank
Lyudmila Mikhaylovskaya
Player
Soviet Union
Country
1960
From
1970
To
2
Gold
1
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Antonina Ryzhova (Moiseyeva)
Antonina Ryzhova (Moiseyeva)
Rank
Antonina Ryzhova (Moiseyeva)
Player
Soviet Union
Country
1956
From
1962
To
2
Gold
1
Silver
–
Bronze
3
Lidiya Strelnikova
Lidiya Strelnikova
Rank
Lidiya Strelnikova
Player
Soviet Union
Country
1956
From
1962
To
2
Gold
1
Silver
–
Bronze
3
10
10
Rank
10
Player
Yekaterina Gamova
Country
Russia
From
2002
To
2010
Gold
2
Silver
–
Bronze
1
Total
3
Lyubov Sokolova (Shashkova)
Lyubov Sokolova (Shashkova)
Rank
Lyubov Sokolova (Shashkova)
Player
Russia
Country
1998
From
2010
To
2
Gold
–
Silver
1
Bronze
3
| Rank | Player | Country | From | To | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Lyudmila Buldakova (Meshcheryakova) | Soviet Union | 1956 | 1970 | 3 | 1 | – | 4 * |
| 2 | Aleksandra Chudina | Soviet Union | 1952 | 1960 | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| Militiya Yeremeyeva (Kononova) | Soviet Union | 1952 | 1960 | 3 | – | – | 3 | |
| 4 | Liliya Konovalova (Kalenik) | Soviet Union | 1956 | 1962 | 2 | 1 | – | 3 |
| Mireya Luis | Cuba | 1986 | 1998 | 2 | 1 | – | 3 | |
| Katsumi Matsumura | Japan | 1962 | 1970 | 2 | 1 | – | 3 | |
| Lyudmila Mikhaylovskaya | Soviet Union | 1960 | 1970 | 2 | 1 | – | 3 | |
| Antonina Ryzhova (Moiseyeva) | Soviet Union | 1956 | 1962 | 2 | 1 | – | 3 | |
| Lidiya Strelnikova | Soviet Union | 1956 | 1962 | 2 | 1 | – | 3 | |
| 10 | Yekaterina Gamova | Russia | 2002 | 2010 | 2 | – | 1 | 3 |
| Lyubov Sokolova (Shashkova) | Russia | 1998 | 2010 | 2 | – | 1 | 3 |
References
- FIVBhttps://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/volleyball-calendar-2025-2028-approved-by-the-fivb?id=100917
- "FIVB Volleyball World Championships To Expand To 32-Teams Per Gender And Enhance Competition Formula"https://www.fivb.com/en/about/news/fivb-volleyball-world-championships-to-expand-to?id=100250
- "List of MVP by edition – Women's World Championship"http://www.volleywood.net/volleyball-tournaments/2014-world-champs/usas-kimberley-hill-gains-superstar-status/attachment/list-of-mvp-2014-fivb-womens-world-championship/