32
This is the first time that the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship will feature 32 teams, as opposed to 24 in previous editions. This is to guarantee universality, and give more chances for emerging nations to compete in high-level tournaments.
2
The Philippines is only the second country in Asia to host the Men’s World Championship — after Japan. The Japanese hosted the tournament twice in the span of eight years: in 1998 and 2006.
13
There are 13 countries who have hosted the World Championship with two prior editions in 2018 and 2022 being co-hosted by two countries.
5
Five countries have won multiple gold medals in the World Championship, with the winningest team being the now-defunct Soviet Union, which ruled the competition in its early years. Their last title came in 1982.
1949
The first-ever FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship was held 76 years ago in 1949 in the country that was then-known as Czechoslovakia. The Soviet Union won the title.
20
Bulgaria (Pool E) have the longest active streak of consecutive qualifications to the World Championship with 20. They have not missed a single edition since 1962.
4
Host countries of the World Championship have won the tournament four times — Soviet Union (1952, 1962), Czechoslovakia (1966), and Poland (2014).
7
Current World No. 1 Poland has finished on the World Championship podium seven times and are on an active streak since their title run in 2014.
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