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Volleyball · Interesting Facts

Chapter 3: Tournaments

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 26 October 2026 · markdown

The competitions behind the medals: the World Cup and the Grand Champions Cup, EuroVolley, Asian and African championships, multi-sport Games, NCAA volleyball for women and men, junior world championships and the women's Club World Championship.

3.31The World Cup

An event born in 1965 to fill a gap, its Olympic tickets and its last edition in Japan.

Test 1the FIVB World CupTake a test

  1. It ran in the years between the two great events until 2019.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  2. Fourteen editions in 54 years.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  3. Only six nations ever took the men's title.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  4. The World Cup was the first Olympic qualifying event.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  5. It was the first time since 1989 that the World Cup qualified nobody.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  6. Each continental federation sent its two best teams.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  7. A new World Cup follows the old series, which ended in 2019.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  8. 1949, 1965, 1990 and 2018.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  9. 1965, 2019 and 2027.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · recall

  10. Brazil won the last edition of the old World Cup.

    Source: FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 2027 · applied

3.32The Grand Champions Cup

Six champions in Japan, the year after every Olympics, from 1993 to 2017.

Test 1the Grand Champions CupTake a test

  1. The Japanese federation hosted it every time.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  2. 1993, 1997 and every four years after, until 2017.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  3. The host, the continental champions and one more team.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  4. In 1993 the United States were the women's wild card.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  5. Each team played the five others once.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  6. The record team won in 1997, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  7. China had first won it in 2001.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  8. 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996: the cup filled the year after the Games.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  9. 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · recall

  10. Brazil's men won five of the seven editions.

    Source: FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins · applied

3.33EuroVolley Stories

Prague in 1949, forty years of shared championships and a bigger, shared tournament.

Test 1EuroVolley storiesTake a test

  1. Six teams met for the first men's title.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  2. The Soviet Union won the first women's title there.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  3. Eight different teams have won the women's title.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  4. The two championships shared one event for forty years.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  5. Sweden had the men and West Germany the women.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  6. The Soviet Union won twelve of them and Russia two more.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  7. It used the 24-team format first tried in 2019.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  8. 1948, 1949, 1989 and 2019.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  9. 1997, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · recall

  10. Four countries co-hosted, a format used again in 2021.

    Source: CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball' · applied

3.34Asian Games and Asian Championships

An outdoor court in Tokyo in 1958, nine-a-side in Jakarta and an Asian title decided in Melbourne.

Test 1Asian Games and Asian ChampionshipsTake a test

  1. The Asian Games had begun in 1951, without volleyball.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  2. The first Asian Games volleyball was played in the open air.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  3. India took the bronze.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  4. Japan won both the men's and the women's titles in Jakarta.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  5. Nine-a-side events were held alongside the six-a-side ones.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  6. Seven teams met in Australia in August 1975.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  7. Japan had also won the first, in 1975.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  8. 1958, 1962 and 1975.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  9. The host, Australia, finished fourth of seven.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · recall

  10. Japan took the first Asian Games volleyball title at home.

    Source: Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net) · applied

3.35African Championships

A first final in Tunis, eleven Tunisian titles and Kenya's women.

Test 1African ChampionshipsTake a test

  1. The host nation won the first title.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  2. Tunisia won 3-0.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  3. Egypt are next, with nine.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  4. Egypt beat Algeria in the final.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  5. Before 1987 the gaps between editions varied.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  6. It is Cameroon's best-known result in the men's event.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  7. It started nine years after the men's.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  8. 1967, 1976 and 1987.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  9. Egypt, at home, beat Algeria in the final.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · recall

  10. Kenya's women have won the African title ten times.

    Source: CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results · applied

3.36Multi-Sport Games

Volleyball at the Universiade and the Mediterranean Games in 1959, and beach volleyball's short Commonwealth run.

Test 1multi-sport GamesTake a test

  1. Romania took silver and Poland bronze.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  2. Poland finished behind Czechoslovakia and Romania.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  3. Lebanon finished third behind Italy and Turkey.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  4. It was played on the beach of an Australian resort city.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  5. Christopher McHugh and Damien Schumann took the gold.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  6. Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan beat the hosts in the final.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  7. The reduced 2026 programme dropped the sport.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  8. 1958, 1996 and 2018.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  9. Italy won; the hosts took bronze.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · recall

  10. Vanuatu's women won bronze on the Gold Coast.

    Source: FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 2026 · applied

3.37NCAA Women's Volleyball

Nine titles for Stanford, a run of four for one programme and five for Nebraska.

Test 1NCAA women's volleyballTake a test

  1. 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  2. Two more followed in 1994 and 1996.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  3. Its ninth title came in 2019.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  4. 1995, 2000, 2006, 2015 and 2017.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  5. Nebraska added titles in 2000 and 2006.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  6. Penn State had last won in 2014.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  7. Sixty-four teams play down to a Final Four.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  8. 1992, 1995 and 1999.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  9. Five, eight and nine.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · recall

  10. Penn State won every title from 2007 to 2010.

    Source: NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report · applied

3.38NCAA Men's Volleyball

A record 21 titles, back-to-back runs and a final in Los Angeles in 2026.

Test 1NCAA men's volleyballTake a test

  1. The 2024 title made it back-to-back for the Bruins.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  2. UCLA then defended the title in 2024.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  3. It was Long Beach State's second final in three years.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  4. The final was played in UCLA's arena.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  5. They beat UC Irvine 3-1 in the 2026 final.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  6. The 2020 championship was cancelled.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  7. Two more programmes followed with back-to-back titles.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  8. 2018-19, 2021-22 and 2023-24.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  9. 1970, 2020, 2024 and 2026.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · recall

  10. Hawaii won the 2026 title, its third since 2021.

    Source: NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history · applied

3.39Junior World Championships

The first junior worlds in Brazil in 1977, the switch to every two years and the age limit.

Test 1junior world championshipsTake a test

  1. Both the men's and the women's events began there.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  2. It ran from 5 to 14 September 1977.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  3. The second and third editions came in 1981 and 1985.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  4. Since 1987 they have come round every two years: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  5. Russia's titles include those of the Soviet era's successor team.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  6. The name changed again after 2011.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  7. There is also an under-19 event for younger players.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  8. Under 19, under 21, then the senior game.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  9. 1977, 1987 and 2011.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · recall

  10. South Korea won the first women's junior world championship.

    Source: FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World) · applied

3.40The Women's Club World Championship

Four titles for VakifBank, a first back-to-back for Eczacıbaşı and a 2025 surprise.

Test 1the women's Club World ChampionshipTake a test

  1. The event returned to Brazil in 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  2. VakifBank also holds the record for wins at the event.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  3. Four titles in nine years.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  4. The Istanbul club won it back to back.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  5. Its titles came in 2019, 2022 and 2024.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  6. The Tuscan club stopped Conegliano's bid for a fourth title.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  7. Both are from Istanbul.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  8. 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2025.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  9. Two, three and four.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · recall

  10. São Paulo hosted the 2025 edition.

    Source: Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016) · applied

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, the FIVB and Volleyball World, the CEV, the NCAA, the IOC, World ParaVolley, the federations', clubs' and leagues' own histories, Guinness World Records and named reputable media.

  • FIVB and Volleyball World archives on the FIVB Volleyball World Cup (1965-2019) and the new World Cup from 202710
  • FIVB press archive on the World Grand Champions Cup (fivb.org); Guinness World Records, most men's and women's Grand Champions Cup wins10
  • CEV EuroVolley history pages (eurovolley.cev.eu); CEV, 'CEV's 50th anniversary: five decades of European Volleyball'10
  • Olympic Council of Asia results archive; Asian Volleyball Confederation championship history (asianvolleyball.net)10
  • CAVB African Championship records (cavb.org) and 2023 results10
  • FISU Universiade results archive (1959); Mediterranean Games results (1959); Commonwealth Games Federation results, Gold Coast 2018; Team Scotland on 202610
  • NCAA.com, 'The NCAA women's volleyball programs that have won the most national championships' and the 2024 championship report10
  • NCAA.com men's volleyball championship reports (2023, 2024, 2026) and championship history10
  • FIVB U21 and U20 World Championship records (fivb.com and Volleyball World)10
  • Guinness World Records, most wins of the FIVB Women's Club World Championship; CEV on Conegliano's third title (2024); Bianet on Eczacibasi (2016)10