New format for 2014 World Championships

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Board of Administration confirmed a new formula for the 2014 World Championships incorporating quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

The new formula for both the women's and men's events, due to be held in Italy and Poland respectively, will see 23 of the 24 teams go through the qualifying process with the host country the only confirmed country (the defending champion was previously also guaranteed a qualification spot). Quarterfinals, semifinals and finals last featured at a FIVB World Championships in 2002.

The 24 teams will be spread across four pools of six teams playing in a round-robin system with the top four teams advancing to a second round of preliminary matches featuring two pools of eight teams. The top four from each pool will then advance to the quarterfinal phase.

In addition, the Board also decided to maintain the same number of vacancies per continent for the 2014 World Championships as per the 2010 editions:

AVC 4 Men - 4 Women
CAVB 3 - 2
CEV 9 - 10 (including hosts)
CSV 3 - 2
NORCECA 5 - 6

The criteria of vacancies is based on the number of teams participating in the qualification phase and percentage of teams placed in the top 12 at previous World Championships.

Source: FIVB