The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is following the trend. It is turning to Asia. The two editions of the world championship in 2025, men's and women's, will take place on the Asian continent. After awarding the men's tournament to the Philippines, the body announced that it had entrusted the organization of the women's World Cup to Thailand. A decision that remains conditional on obtaining guarantees from the Thai government. They are expected next month. In the process, the FIVB unveiled the list of countries qualified for the two world championships in 2025, the first with 32 teams (compared to 24 in the old format), also the first of a new cycle during which the world event will take place every two years. In total, no fewer than 43 different countries will be represented at the world championships: six from Africa, eight from Asia, 19 from Europe, six from the NORCECA region and four from South America. The men's tournament has two automatic qualifiers: the host nation Philippines and reigning world champion Italy. Under the new qualification system, 15 places have been allocated at the continental championships in 2023: Egypt, Algeria and Libya for Africa, Japan, Iran and Qatar for Asia, Poland, Slovenia and France for Europe, the United States, Canada and Cuba for the NORCECA region, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia for South America. The remaining 15 places have been allocated to the top nations in the world rankings as of August 30, 2024, who have not yet qualified: Germany, Serbia, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Portugal, Finland, Tunisia, China, Romania, Chile and South Korea. The men's World Cup will take place from September 12 to 28, 2025. The same qualification process for the women's competition, with two automatic qualifiers: Thailand as host country and Serbia, defending champion. For the rest, Kenya, Egypt and Cameroon (Africa), China, Japan and Vietnam (Asia), Turkey, the Netherlands and Italy (Europe), the Dominican Republic, the United States and Canada (NORCECA), Brazil, Argentina and Colombia (South America) have secured their tickets at the continental championships. The 15 places allocated through the FIVB world ranking went to Poland, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, France, Bulgaria, Cuba, Sweden, Mexico, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Greece.
