Press release

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, December 15, 2012 – The FIVB Executive Committee approved the appointment of Japan and Egypt into the 2013 edition of the World League at its meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday.

This decision follows the ratification of the Sports Events Council’s proposal to expand the World League to 18 teams (three pools of six teams) for the first time in its history during its meeting earlier this month.

Egypt, who last participated in 2010, and Japan, who finished 15th in 2012, will join Pool C which consists of Canada (WR18), Korea (WR22), Finland (WR31) and the Netherlands (WR41).

Pools A and B were determined using the serpentine system based on the world rankings as of August 13, 2012. Pool C features the next best four in the world rankings after the 12 teams in Pool A and B plus Egypt and Japan.

2013 World League pools:
Pool A: Brazil (WR1), Poland (WR4), USA (WR5), Bulgaria (WR8), Argentina (WR9) and France (WR16)
Pool B: Russia (WR2), Italy (WR3), Cuba (WR6), Serbia (WR7), Germany (WR10), Iran (WR14)
Pool C: Canada (WR18), Korea (WR22), Finland (WR31), the Netherlands (WR41), Egypt (WR13), Japan (WR19).

Eight teams will qualify for the World League Finals featuring the top three teams from Pools A and B, plus the winner of Pool C and the host country.

The top three world ranked teams in each pool will play three matches at home and two away with the bottom three world ranked teams playing twice at home and three times away.

The Intercontinental Round will run from May 31 to July 13 before the Finals, where the venue is expected to be confirmed at the start of next year, take place from July 16-21.

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