2027 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup: All 32 Teams Confirmed
2027 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup: All 32 Teams Confirmed
The field for the 2027 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup is officially complete, with all 32 national teams now confirmed for the tournament in the United States and Canada. The competition will bring together the strongest teams from across the world and will also have major significance on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The tournament will be played from August 20 to September 5, 2027.
32 Teams Ready for the Volleyball World Cup
The expanded Volleyball World Cup will feature 32 teams, making this only the second edition of the women’s tournament to use a 32-team field. The teams will be divided into eight groups of four during the opening phase, with the top two from each group moving into the knockout rounds. The competition will then progress through the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, bronze-medal match and final.
The United States and Canada qualified automatically as the host nations, while defending champions Italy also received a direct place after winning the previous edition in 2025. The remaining places were decided through continental competitions and the FIVB rankings, creating a field that includes established powers as well as Switzerland, who will make their historic debut.
Continental Qualifiers Shape the Field
The continental qualification process produced some of the biggest names in women’s volleyball. Egypt, Kenya and Cameroon secured Africa’s three places, while Thailand, China and Japan qualified from Asia. In Europe, Türkiye, Serbia and Poland earned their places, joining defending champions Italy in the tournament.
The NORCECA region will be represented by Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, while Brazil, Argentina and Colombia qualified from South America. This distribution gives the 2027 FIVB World Cup a truly global character, with teams from five continental regions preparing to compete for the world title.
Switzerland Set for Historic Debut
One of the most interesting stories surrounding FIVB Volleyball is Switzerland’s qualification. The Swiss team will appear at the Women’s World Cup for the first time in history after securing the final available place through the world ranking pathway.
Switzerland entered the qualification picture ranked 30th in the world and became the last team to secure a ticket. Their appearance adds a fresh storyline to the Women’s Volleyball World Cup, giving the team an opportunity to test itself against the world’s leading national sides on the biggest international stage.
Strong Asian Presence at the 2027 World Cup
Asia will have three representatives at the volleyball 2027 tournament: Thailand, China and Japan. All three have significant experience at the international level and will be expected to compete strongly when the World Cup begins.
Thailand, China and Japan secured their places through the 2026 Asian continental championship process. Their qualification underlines the strength of Asian women’s volleyball, where all three nations have developed strong international programmes and regularly compete against the leading teams from Europe and the Americas.
Europe Brings Major Contenders
Europe will also have a powerful presence in the FIVB World Cup, with Türkiye, Serbia and Poland qualifying alongside defending champions Italy. These teams come into the tournament with strong recent results and considerable experience at major international competitions.
Türkiye were particularly impressive in 2026, winning the European Championship after defeating Italy in a dramatic five-set final. Serbia and Poland also secured World Cup places through their European Championship performances, ensuring that the European contingent will contain several teams capable of challenging for the title.
USA and Canada Prepare for Home World Cup
The United States and Canada will have the advantage of playing on home soil. The two nations were automatically qualified as hosts, while the tournament will mark the first time the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup is staged in North America.
Five cities will host the event. Montreal and Quebec City in Canada will join Omaha, Orlando and Anaheim in the United States. Pool matches will be played across Montreal, Omaha, Orlando and Quebec City, while the decisive knockout stages will take place in Anaheim.
World Cup Becomes a Key Step Toward LA 2028
The importance of the 2027 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup goes beyond the world championship itself. The tournament will also serve as one of the final qualification opportunities for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The three highest-ranked teams at the World Cup that have not already qualified for LA28 will earn Olympic berths. That system means every match could carry additional significance, particularly for teams still chasing an Olympic place.
A Major Stage for Women’s Volleyball
With 32 teams, five host cities and an Olympic qualification pathway attached to the tournament, the 2027 competition promises to be one of the biggest events in the international women’s volleyball calendar. Established champions will face ambitious newcomers, while teams such as Switzerland will experience the World Cup stage for the first time.
The tournament also arrives at an important period for the growth of volleyball around the world. With the USA and Canada hosting the event and LA28 approaching, the Volleyball World Cup has the opportunity to attract a new generation of fans and players while showcasing the increasing global strength of women’s volleyball.
The Road to 2027 Begins Now
The 32-team field is now complete, but the biggest questions remain unanswered. Who will dominate the group stage? Can Italy defend its title? Will Türkiye, Serbia, Brazil, China, Japan or another challenger emerge as a serious threat? And which teams will use the World Cup to secure their place at LA28?
With the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup 2027 scheduled for August 20 to September 5, the countdown has officially begun. The world’s best national teams will arrive in the USA and Canada with different goals, but ultimately they will all be chasing the same prize becoming world champions.
