Lausanne, Switzerland, August 2, 2010 – The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) would like to announce a change in the match timing for the FIVB Men’s World Championship Italia 2010 to be held across 10 different cities in Italy from September 24-October 10.

With two matches being played per day, the opening matches will now commence at 17:00 (local time) followed by the second match at 21:00. These new start times replace the previous start times of 16:00 and 20:00.

FIVB Men’s World Championship Italia 2010 official page
Match Schedule

There has also been a change in the opening match with the enthralling encounter between three-time world champions Italy and two-time bronze medallists Japan now being played at 21:00 rather than 17:00 when Iran and Egypt will officially open the action in Pool A of the FIVB Men’s World Championship Italia 2010 in Milan.

Five other matches will take place at the same time as the Iran-Egypt match with two-time defending champions Brazil playing Tunisia in Pool B action in Verona, six time champions (as USSR) Russia taking on Cameroon in Pool C in Modena, Venezuela play Argentina in an all-South American Pool D contest in Reggio Calabria, France come up against the Czech Republic in Torino in Pool E and 2006 silver medalists Poland play Canada in Pool F in Trieste.

The FIVB Men’s World Championship Italia 2010 will feature a total of two games per day in each of the six pools during the first round for a total of 12 games per day from September 25-27.

Other key games on the first day see Olympic champions USA play Mexico in Reggio Calabria in Pool D while 2006 World Championship bronze medallists Bulgaria take on China in Torino in Pool E.

Round two from September 30 to October 2 consists of one match per day in each of the six pools, which will be based in Catania, Milan and Ancona (two pools per venue meaning one match at 17:00 and another at 21:00 at each venue) followed by the third round, which runs from October 4-6 and consists of one match per day in each of the four pools based in Rome and Florence (two pools per venue meaning one match at 17:00 and another at 21:00 at each venue).

The semifinals will take place in Modena and Florence on October 8 and Rome on October 9 (top four semifinals at 17:00 and 21:00 in Rome on Oct 9) before the final at 21.00 (local time) in Rome on October 10. 

For the full schedule and for more information on this year’s FIVB Men’s World Championship Italia 2010 click here