The 2017 edition of the FIVB Volleyball World League is set to welcome 36 teams, the same number as for the previous edition.
Similar to the highly sudccessful 2016 edition, the 2017 FIVB Volleyball World League will last 1 month, from June 2 to July 2, 2017. The Preliminary Round will adopt the same format as the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Preliminary Round with three different venues hosting matches over each of the three weeks of play for group 1 and 2, and while lasting 2 weeks for group 3.
Group 1
Group 1 returns to 12 teams. Among them, 11 played in Group 1 in 2016 (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Iran, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia and the USA) plus 2016 Group 2 winners Canada.
In the Preliminary Round, teams will play in pools of four teams each over three weekends, before the top five of a combined ranking plus the hosts meet for the Final Six from July 4 to 8. The six teams in the finals will be split into two pools of three and each play two matches. The top two teams in each pool will progress to the semifinals and finals.
Group 2
Group 2 will also feature 12 teams – 10 ranked 14th to 23rd in the 2016 edition. The 10 teams competing in Group 2 in 2016 (China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Turkey) have been joined by 2016 Group 3 winners Slovenia and Australia, holding Group 1's 12th position.
Similarly to Group 1, the Preliminary Round for Group 2 will be played in four-team pools over three weekends. The Final Four from June 23-25, will be held amongst the top three of the Preliminary Round standings plus hosts.
Group 3
Group 3, also with 12 teams (Chinese Taipei, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Montenegro, Qatar, Spain, Tunisia, and Venezuela joined by Estonia and Austria), will be played over two weekends in four-team pools, with the top 3 of the combined standings joining the hosts for a Final Four from June 16-18.