Lausanne, Switzerland, May 31, 2017 - Tied on a 2-2 head-to-head FIVB World League record Belgium and Canada will be after gaining the edge when they clash on the opening day of the 2017 edition, Friday in Novi Sad.
Head-to-Head• Belgium and Canada have been drawn together once before in World League history. In the 2014 edition, these nations clashed a total four times in the intercontinental rounds, with both teams winning on two occasions.
• Their only other competitive meetings at world level came at the 1974 and 1978 World Championships. In 1978, Canada beat Belgium in straight sets (consolation round 2). And in 1974, Belgium recorded a 3-0 group stage win over Canada.
Belgium• Belgium will make their fourth World League participation and will appear for a fourth season in a row.
• A ninth place finish last season is their best performance in a single campaign.
• Belgium finished 11th in their debut season and then 12 in the next.
• Belgium won their opening match in all their previous three World League appearances.
Canada• Canada will appear in the World League for the sixth consecutive season.
• This will be Canada's 11th overall participation in the competition.
• Their best finish in the competition is still their seventh place from 1992.
• Canada have won 10 of their last 11 World League matches. The only exception in that run was the five-set defeat against Finland on 3 July 2016.
• Canada won their opening match in each of their last seven World League participations. The last time they kicked off with a defeat was in 1999 (3-1 against Brasil).