World Championship 2026/27

World Championship is the premier global volleyball tournament for national teams, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). The competition was established in 1949, with the inaugural edition taking place in Prague, Czechoslovakia, shortly after the international governing body was founded in 1947. While the women's championship began in Moscow in 1952, the men's event has maintained a distinct biennial schedule in odd-numbered years.

The 2026 competition features nations including Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, and Canada. The tournament structure utilizes eight groups of four teams in a round-robin stage, with the top two sides from each group advancing to a knockout phase comprising the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final. Participation is determined through a multi-year qualification process involving continental confederations—CAVB, AVC, CEV, NORCECA, and CSV—alongside FIVB World Rankings. There is no promotion or relegation within the system.

Historical dominance is shared among several nations. The Soviet Union holds the record for the most men's titles with six victories. Italy follows with five championships, won in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2022, and 2025. Brazil and Poland have each secured three titles. Bulgaria reached the final in 2025, losing to Italy, who are the current champions. The tournament is widely considered the most prestigious title after the Olympic Games due to its history and rigorous qualification structure. It remains distinct from the annual FIVB Volleyball Nations League, launched in 2018, and the defunct FIVB World Cup, which ran from 1965 to 2019 and previously served as an Olympic qualifier.

Starting with the 2027 edition, the event will be renamed the FIVB Volleyball World Cup. The 2025 edition was hosted by the Philippines, expanding the field to 32 teams. This structural change marks a shift from previous formats while maintaining the core objective of crowning a world champion through extensive global qualification.