Lausanne, Switzerland, April 17, 2018 – For the very first time in FIVB history, the Volleyball Nations League will take place from May 15 to July 8, 2018. A brand new competition for both genders, the Volleyball Nations League is the most exciting volleyball revolution in the last decade and will shape the future of the sport. The 2018 edition of the yearly competition features 16 national teams per gender, and will culminate with the women's Finals, which take place in Nanjing, China from June 27 to July 1, whilst the men's Finals will be held in Lille, France from July 4 to 8.
What will the Volleyball Nations League look like?
• The competition features both men's and women's teams, to make the sport easier to follow for fans around the globe. The 16 teams per gender consist of 12 core teams and 4 challenger teams.
• The tournament schedule includes a total of 260 exhilarating matches - 130 in the men's tournament and 130 in the women's. Each core team will host at least one round of matches, bringing the action closer to fans all around the world.
• The 130 matches per gender include 120 matches during the preliminary rounds of the competition and 10 will take place during the Finals.
How will the Preliminary Round and Finals work?
• For each gender, the Preliminary Round is staged over five weeks, played in round robin format so that each team plays one another.
• Every team will play a minimum of 15 matches, ensuring that only the best nations will make it through to the Finals.
• All core nations will host at least one pool, to ensure volleyball fans everywhere can enjoy world class sporting entertainment up close.
• The women's Preliminary Round begins on May 15 and ends on June 14 (matches played Tuesday to Thursday). The men's takes place from May 25 to June 24 (matches played Friday to Sunday).
• All teams will compete in one table, but only five teams will progress from the Preliminary Round to the Finals and join the Finals hosts in the competition's grand finale.
• The Finals take place over five days and include 10 matches per gender.
Who will participate in 2018?
• In the men's competition Brazil, Italy, USA, China, Serbia, France, Argentina, Iran, Poland, Germany, Japan and Russia make up the core teams, while Australia, South Korea, Canada and Bulgaria are the four designated challenger teams.
• In the women's competition Brazil, Italy, USA, China, Serbia, the Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey, South Korea, Germany, Japan and Russia comprise the 12 core nations. Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Poland and Belgium are the challenger teams.
What makes the Volleyball Nations League special?
• The FIVB has invested in fan experience and spectator engagement, and the Volleyball Nations League will offer viewers an unrivalled experience, whether fans are watching in the stadium or through one of our broadcast partners.
• For the first time the FIVB, in partnership with IMG, will bring its broadcast distribution in-house. This allows the FIVB total control of the quality and ensures that the standard of broadcasting will be consistently world class.
• Fans in the stadium will see new and enhanced instant replays from all angles, and those watching at home who can see live stats to complement their viewing experience, giving them a greater understanding of each match’s sporting narrative.
• The Volleyball Nations League will take the sport of volleyball all over the world, allowing more people access to live sport than ever before! The global volleyball family will benefit from this competition, creating new fans throughout the season.
And most importantly, the Volleyball Nations League represents one of the most exciting and competitive leagues in our sport's history. Every team will play one-another, testing themselves against the best of the best and developing an ever-changing narrative to keep the fans hooked.
Quick links: FIVB Volleyball Nations League
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Match schedule
Competition information
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