The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is setting its sights on new territories. The World Championships just concluded in Thailand (women) and the Philippines (men) this summer, and new destinations will soon be added to the map. 2027 will mark a return to Poland, but also, and perhaps more importantly, a preview of the Olympic Games, in the United States and Canada, two countries that have never hosted a World Championship. In four years, the Men's World Championship will be held in Qatar, another first, while the Women's tournament will take place in the Philippines, buoyed by this summer's success. The message is clear and deliberate: the FIVB is eyeing new markets, essential to its growth.
Japan is no longer alone
Europe has historically dominated volleyball, as evidenced by its record: European nations have won seven of the last ten men's titles (five for Italy, two for Poland) and six of the last seven women's titles (two each for Italy, Russia, and Serbia). The Old Continent is a suitable venue for major international events. It hosted four consecutive Men's World Championships between 2010 and 2022. However, a shift, or at least a rebalancing, seems to be underway.
Four of the last six editions of the Women's World Championship have been held in Asia: in Japan in 2006, 2010, and 2018, and in Thailand this year. Japan even holds the record for the most World Championships hosted (five for women, two for men). Add to that the recent men's edition in the Philippines, as well as the bids for 2029, and the importance of the East in the eyes of the FIVB becomes clear.
The billion as a goal
Asia has made significant strides in recent months. Thailand boasts 27 million volleyball fans, according to the FIVB. In 2023, over 24.000 tickets were sold in 24 hours for Nations League matches. On Sunday, September 28, 16.429 spectators witnessed Italy's victory in Pasay City. We know the Philippines provides the perfect setting to inspire the next generation and connect communities across the country and region. These Championships are a chance to show that volleyball belongs to everyone, everywhere. " says Ugo Valensi, the executive director of Volleyball World.
« We learned a lot from hosting the Men's World Championship, and we'll probably do even better in 2029., says Ramon Suzara, president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and vice-president of the FIVB. We are determined to maintain the momentum of the 2025 World Championship and make it something lasting for our athletes, our fans and our nation"The kind of speech that is bound to resonate with an international federation."
The president of the FIVB, Fabio Azevedo, himself believes that awarding the 2029 World Championship to the Philippines allows his sport to " take a new step "towards the ambitious goal of going from 800 million fans to 1,6 billion by 2032. The FI can legitimately hope to go even further and find new partners among the candidates to organize the next Olympic and Paralympic Games: India, which is putting in place an extremely ambitious plan, or Indonesia.
