Celebrating 2022: FIVB Volleyball World Championships

The global Volleyball Family had plenty of opportunities to celebrate the sport as not one, but two FIVB Volleyball World Championships were staged in 2022. Poland and Slovenia hosted the men’s edition between 26 August and 11 September, while the Netherlands and Poland delivered the women’s edition from 23 September - 15 October.

Today, the FIVB is looking back at the moments that hooked fans during the world’s most prestigious volleyball tournaments, in a very special year that marked the return to a full international calendar of sport.

FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship

Italy’s 24-year wait for its fourth world title came to an end in 2022, as the Italian’s silenced a packed Spodek Arena in Katowice by beating defending champions Poland 3-1 in the final. This is Italy’s fourth World Champion title having also topped the podium in the 1990, 1994 and 1998 tournaments.

Italy also overcame Tokyo 2020 Olympic champions and Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2022 winners France on their journey to the final, ending Les Bleus’ hopes of winning the three top titles in world volleyball back-to-back.

Italy celebrates first title in 24 years

Head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi is the only Italian to have been a part of each of the country’s four victories. The 60-year-old was part of the nation’s squad in the 1990, 1994 and 1998 competitions as the team’s setter, before leading the squad in their winning campaign this year.

Brazil took bronze after defeating Slovenia 3-1, taking their place on the podium for the sixth-straight World Championship.

FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship

In the women’s edition, Serbia successfully defended their title as reigning world champions at the 2022 edition. The Serbians were undefeated in the tournament and swept aside Brazil 3-0 to claim gold and top the podium once again. Enroute to the final, the team also toppled reigning Olympic champions the United States 3-1 in the semi-finals.

This victory made Serbia just the sixth nation to win back-to-back editions of the World Championship, joining the former USSR (1952, 1956, 1960), Japan (1982, 1967), China (1982, 1986), Cuba (1994, 1998) and Russia (2006, 2010).

Serbia successfully defended their title in 2022

Italy completed the podium, beating the United States 3-0 to add World Championship bronze to a highly successful year for the reigning VNL and European champions.