2016 FIVB Volleyball World League

Iranian national players & the experience of a compressive World League

The national volleyball men’s team of Iran will experience his fourth attendance in 2016 world
league at the most tough time simultaneous with Olympic year.
The World Federation (FIVB) will run the 27th World League a bit different from the previous
ones to save time and increase excitement. 2016 is the year of Olympic and this is why FIVB has
devised a new formula for the world league to provide the participating teams with the preparation
opportunity to rest as well.
The FIVB has found a way to hold the world league in one month rather than two months as before.
The World League will run from 17th June up to 17th July in new style and formula (in the same
way as Women’s Grand Prix).
Based on the new format, thirty-six teams will compete in three levels of one, two, and three in
2016 which are as follows:
Level I: France, Italy, Australia, Russia, USA, Brazil, Iran, Argentina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Belgium,
and Poland.
Level II: Holland, Portugal, Turkey, Slovakia, Japan, South Korea, Finland, Cuba, Canada, China,
Egypt, and Czech Republic.
Level III: Tunisia, Venezuela, Slovenia, Qatar, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Montenegro, Porto
Rico, Chinse Taipei, Kazakhstan, and Greece.
Last year, level 1 of world league was held with eight participating teams while the number gets
twelve in 2016. These twelve teams are divided into nine groups, each with four different teams.
So teams of each group in the three weeks of preliminary round are various.
Each week, three teams will host their opponents in a round robin system. The sum of results and
points of these nine groups will place in one ranking table.
At the end of group round, the host of final along with the top five teams of the table will move up
to Final 6. The final round will run in week five of the WL.
The formula for the final round is as the last editions. The top six finalists divide into two threeteam
pools. The top two teams of each pool qualify to the semifinal. Then, the winners will face
each other in final match.
The champion of level II of 2016 WL can find a way to level I for 2017 World League and the last
team of level I drops to level II.
Level II will have 12 participating teams like last year that are to rival in nine groups of four teams.
In each week, three groups compete in a round-robin system. The host of final round along with
the top three teams of group rivalry move up to Final 4. The week four will have the final round
of level II. The champion of 2016 WL can ascend to level I in 2017 WL while the last team of the
table will descend to level III next year.
There are 12 teams in level III forming six four-team groups. In each week, three groups compete
in a round-robin system. The host country along with the top three teams move up to the final
round which is to be held in the week three of WL.
The rise in the number of participating teams this year has made it unique in the history of World
League. In 1990, eight teams competed into two groups; in 1991, the number rose to ten. In 1992-
2000, 2004 and 2005, the number rose to 12 teams. The number even got higher to 17 teams in
2001-2003, 2006, and 2012. Eighteen participating teams were recorded in 2013 while 2014 was
held with a radical change in number which reached to 28 teams. In 2015, the number rose to 32
teams and the highest number with 36 teams has turned a new record in 2016 WL.
The most glorious teams of World league:
Brazil: 9 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze
Italy: 8 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze
Russia: 3 gold, 5 silver, 7 bronze
USA: 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze
Cuba, 1 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze
Holland: 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
France: 2 gold, 1 silver
Poland: 2 gold, 1 bronze
Serbia: 4 silver, 3 bronze
Asian Teams in the World League:
Iran will experience this year’s world league with a new coach. The target is to revive the previous
records to stay in level I.
This is the fourth presence of Iran ever in the history of World League. The first time took place
in 2013 with Julio Velasco who could earn the ninth place. The second time went back to 2014
with Slobodan Kovac who earned the fourth place. In 2015, Iran made his third presence that could
just join the top eight teams not to lose the level I.
Japan, South Korea, and China are the top three Asian teams recorded a long experience in the
World League. The best Asian Titles of world league are the sixth place for Japan in 1990, 1993,
and 2008; sixth place for South Korea and China in 1995 and 1996 respectively.
The other Asian representative team, Australia had his first attendance in 1999 when the FIVB did
the favor to have them into twelve participating teams as the host of 2000 Olympic Games.
Australia finished ten out of the twelve teams. The second attendance took place for Australia in
2014 starting the tournament from level II that could crown high up to level I among the top final
six. Australia experienced his third presence in 2015 and will go for the fourth this year.
The Standings of the Last World League Campaigns:
Japan (1990): Italy, Holland, Brazil
Italy (1991): Italy, Cuba, Russia
Italy (1992): Italy, Cuba, USA
Brazil (1993): Brazil, Russia, Italy
Italy (1994): Italy, Cuba, Brazil
Brazil (1995): Italy, Brazil, Cuba
Holland (1996): Holland, Italy, Russia
Russia (1997): Italy, Cuba, Russia
Italy (1998): Cuba, Russia, Holland
Argentina (1999): Italy, Cuba, Brazil
Holland (2000): Italy, Russia, Brazil
Poland (2001): Brazil, Italy, Russia
Brazil (2002): Russia, Brazil, Yugoslavia
Spain (2003): Brazil, Serbia & Montenegro, Italy
Italy (2004): Brazil, Italy, Serbia & Montenegro
Serbia (2005): Brazil, Serbia & Montenegro, Cuba
Russia (2006): Brazil, France, Russia
Poland (2007): Brazil, Russia, USA
Brazil (2008): USA, Serbia, Russia
Serbia (2009): Brazil, Serbia, Russia
Argentina (2010): Brazil, Russia, Serbia
Poland (2011): Russia, Brazil, Poland
Bulgaria (2012): Poland, USA, Cuba
Argentina (2013): Russia, Brazil, Italy
Italy (2014): USA, Brazil, Italy
Brazil (2015): France, Serbia, USA
2016: ???