In Group 2, the four teams that will contest the final round in Australia’s Gold Coast on July 24 to 25 will also be decided over the course of three preliminary round weekends.
Australia are determined to return to the top-tier Group, following last year’s relegation. Their opponents on the opening weekend in Poprad are Portugal, hosts Slovakia and Japan.
In Seoul, hosts Korea will face the promoted Slovenians, the Czech Republic and Finland; while in Ankara, Turkey will host China, the Netherlands and Egypt.
In Group 3, two preliminary round weekends will determine the teams that will progress to the final four from June 16 to 18 in Leon, Mexico. The hosts are already assured of their spot and will be joined by three other countries.
The hot favourites are Germany, who finished third in the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, have a new coach in international star Andrea Giani. The Germans have home advantage in Frankfurt, where they will take on Kazakhstan, Venezuela and newcomers Austria.
The second team that will make its World League debut is Estonia, who will face hosts Montenegro, Chinese Taipei and Tunisia in Bijelo Polje. The third preliminary round leg in Barcelona sees Spain host Mexico, Qatar and Greece.
After the success of the volleyball at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where Brazil and China won the men’s and women’s Olympic gold respectively, FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° is looking forward to another exciting edition of the FIVB World League.
"We must apply what we achieved in Rio throughout the World League," President Graça said. "We are in a new era for our sport and for the way we communicate about the sport of volleyball. The World League expansion, that is real development, which provides new opportunities to countries."
The World League began with just eight countries, which took part in the inaugural competition in 1990. In 1991 the number of teams had risen to 10, while 12 nations competed from 1992-2000 and 2004-2005.