FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League

The FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League is an international volleyball competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport's global governing body. The first tournament took place between May and July 2018, with the final taking place in Lille, France.[1] Russia won the inaugural edition, defeating France in the final.

FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League
Current season, competition or edition:
2021 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League
VNL
SportVolleyball
Founded2017 (2017)
Inaugural season2018
CEO Ary Graça
No. of teams16
ContinentInternational (FIVB)
Most recent
champion(s)		 Russia (2nd title)
Most titles Russia (2 titles)
Official websiteFIVB Nations League

In July 2018, FIVB announced that USA would host the next three editions of the Men's Volleyball Nations League Finals, from 2019–2021‌.[2] but it got canceled due to a clash with the U.S. Independence Day (for USA 2020 Hosting).[3] So FIVB confirmed Turin, Italy, is the new host of Final stage of 2020 VNL,[4] but on March 13, 2020 FIVB decided to postpone the Nations League until after the 2020 Summer Olympics caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,[5] Finally FIVB canceled 2020 Edition and confirmed Italy, is the host of Final stage of 2021 VNL.

The creation of the tournament was announced in October 2017 as a joint project between the FIVB, the IMG and 21 national federations.[6] The Nations League replaced the World League, a former annual men's international event that ran between 1990 and 2017.

A corresponding tournament for women's national teams is the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League.

History

Adoption

In June 2017, Argentinian website Voley Plus reported that FIVB would drastically change the format for both the 2018 World League and World Grand Prix. According to the reports, starting from 2018, the World League and the World Grand Prix would have only one Group (no more Groups 1, 2 and 3) of 16 national teams.[7][8]

In October 2017, FIVB announced, via a press release, the creation of the men's and women's Volleyball Nations League, confirming the tournaments as a replacement for the World League and World Grand Prix.[6]

According to the press release, the goal of the tournament would be to revolutionise volleyball competitions, making it one of the most important events in the history of the sport, presenting volleyball in a way that has never been experienced before, building on the innovative sports presentation on display at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and bringing the action closer to fans around the world. By pushing the boundaries of technology, innovation and digital broadcasting, spectators at home would witness new and diverse angles, showcasing the world class athleticism of each nation's best players.[6]

For the very first time, the FIVB, in collaboration with the sports marketing company IMG, would take complete control of content production, maximising quality and promoting a compelling on-court narrative, easier for fans to engage with and understand.[6][9]

Marketing

The International Volleyball Federation has partnered with global brand strategy and design firm Landor Associates to create the Volleyball Nations League branding. Landor has also contributed with in-stadium and on-screen television graphics, staff uniforms, designs for the World Volleyball app, medals and the winning trophy.[10][11]

Digital

Microsoft, the multinational technology company, has signed an agreement with the FIVB that the international federation vows will change the way the sport of volleyball is consumed while heightening the fan experience during match days as well as in the digital space.[12] Under the tie-up, the ‘Microsoft Sports Digital Platform’ has been created to create new digital services and deliver personalised content on demand in order to boost the FIVB global audience and improve fan engagement.[13][14]

Prize Money

According to FIVB, the prize money is equal to men's and women's VNL as FIVB gender equality policy. At the Preliminary round, the winning team is awarded US$9,000 for every win and the losing team is awarded US$4,000. The winner of the whole competition will receive US$1,000,000. The runner up will have US$500,000. The prize money to third place is UDS$300,000. The players who selected into Dream Team will receive UDS10,000 each while the MVP will be given US$30,000.[15]

Market Performance

FIVB announced that The 2019 Volleyball Nations League (both men's and women's) attracted a cumulative global audience of more than 1.5 billion. This number was an increase of 200 million from the 2018 VNL. Total more than 600,000 tickets were sold in 2019 VNL.[16]

Format

As in the former World League, the competition will be divided in two phases, albeit with changes in the competition formula: a preliminary round, with a system of rotating host cities, and a final round played in a pre-selected host city.

The preliminary round is held over five weeks, versus three in the World League. Each week, the participating teams are organized in pools, and each team plays one match against all other teams in its pool. All games in a pool take place over a weekend in the same city.

When all matches of the preliminary round have been played, the top five teams in the overall standings qualify for the final round, and the remaining ones leave the competition. The host nation automatically qualifies for the final round.[17]

16 national teams will compete in the inaugural edition of the tournament; 12 core teams, which are always qualified, and 4 challenger teams, which can face relegation.[17]

Preliminary round

The 16 teams compete in round-robin tournament, with every core team hosting a pool al least once. The teams are divided into 4 pools of 4 teams in each week and compete five weeks long, with a total of 120 matches. The top five teams after the round-robin tournament join the hosts in the final round.[17] The relegation will consider the four challenger teams and the last ranked challenger team will be excluded from the next edition. The winners of the Challenger Cup would qualify for the next edition as a challenger team.[18][19]

Final round

The six qualified teams play in 2 pools of 3 teams in a round-robin format. The top 2 teams of each pool qualify for the semifinals. The first ranked teams play against the second ranked teams in this round. The winners of the semifinals advance to compete for the Nations League title.[17]

Challenger Cup
Main article: FIVB Volleyball Men's Challenger Cup

The FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup will be a competition for national teams which will run in concurrence with the Volleyball Nations League. The Challenger Cup will consist of teams not participating in the current edition of the Volleyball Nations League and will feature one host team and five teams from the five continental confederations as follows:[18]

Confederation Slots
AVC (Asia)0 or 1 (intercontinental playoff with CSV representative)
CAVB (Africa)1
CSV (South America)0 or 1 (intercontinental playoff with AVC representative)
CEV (Europe)2
NORCECA (North America)1
Total6 (5+H)

The Continental Confederations, responsible for determining the teams that will qualify for the FIVB Challenger Cup, are free to organise their Continental Qualification Tournament or use an existing competition to define the qualified team(s).

The FIVB Challenger Cup will be held before the FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals and the winners will qualify for the next year's VNL as a challenger team.[18]

Hosts

List of hosts by number of final round championships hosted.

Times hosted Hosts Year(s)
2 United States2019, 2022
1 France2018
 Italy2021

Appearance
Team Preliminary Round Final Round
App. First Last App. First Last
 Argentina320182021–––
 Australia320182021–––
 Brazil320182021220182019
 Bulgaria320182021–––
 Canada320182021–––
 China320182021–––
 France320182021220182019
 Germany320182021–––
 Iran320182021120192019
 Italy320182021–––
 Japan320182021–––
 Poland320182021220182019
 Portugal120192019–––
 Russia320182021220182019
 Serbia320182021120182018
 Slovenia120212021–––
 South Korea120182018–––
 United States320182021220182019

Results summary
Main article: FIVB Volleyball Nations League statistics
Year Final host Final 3rd place match Teams
PR / FR
Champions Score Runners-up 3rd place Score 4th place
2018
Lille
Russia		 3–0
France
United States		 3–0
Brazil		 16 / 6
2019
Chicago
Russia		 3–1
United States
Poland		 3–0
Brazil		 16 / 6
2020 Originally scheduled to be held in Turin, Italy, canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
Turin		 – – 16 / 6

Medals summary
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Russia2002
2 United States0112
3 France0101
4 Poland0011
Totals (4 nations)2226

MVP by edition

Team performances by season
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  • – No movement for Challenger teams
  • – Relegated for Challenger teams
Team 2018 2019 2021
G FR RK G FR RK G FR RK
 ArgentinaCL14CL7C
 AustraliaCH L13CH L13CH
 BrazilCF4CF4C
 BulgariaCH L11CH L12CH
 CanadaCH L7CH L9CH
 ChinaCL15CL16C
 FranceCF2CF6C
 GermanyCL9CL14C
 IranCL10CF5C
 ItalyCL8CL8C
 JapanCL12CL10C
 PolandCF5CF3C
 PortugalVCCCH L15VCC
 RussiaCF1CF1C
 SerbiaCF5CL11C
 SloveniaVCCVCCCH
 South KoreaCH L16VCCVCC
 United StatesCF3CF2C

See also

References
  1. Men's VNL squads at your fingertips - Get them now
  2. "USA to host next three editions of Men's FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals". FIVB. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  3. "VNL2020 - News detail - FIVB opens bidding process for 2020 VNL Men's Finals - Volleyball Nations League 2020". www.volleyball.world. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  4. "News - Turin confirmed to host the 2020 men's VNL Finals". www.fivb.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  5. "FIVB announces changes to events calendar". FIVB. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. "FIVB announces the Volleyball Nations League". FIVB.org. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  7. "FIVB drastically changes format for 2018 World League and Grand Prix, Italy remain member of elite!". WorldofVolley. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  8. "¡Qué bombazo!: La World League y el Grand Prix van a cambiar y Argentina será beneficiada" (in Spanish). Voley Plus. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  9. IMG helps set up new OTT platform for FIVB
  10. "Landor partners with FIVB to launch Volleyball Nations League". Landor Associates. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  11. "Landor partners with FIVB for Volleyball Nations League". FIVB. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  12. FIVB Partners with Microsoft, Changing the Way Fans Consume Volleyball - Around the Rings (ATR)
  13. [FIVB teams up with Microsoft on digital platform - Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)]
  14. Volleyballworld.tv
  15. "FIVB reveals prize money for 2018 Volleyball Nations League". wov.its4test.com. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  16. "VNL2019 - News detail - 1.5 billion global audience tune in to watch 2019 VNL - FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2019". www.volleyball.world. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  17. "Pools overview released for thrilling inaugural season of VNL". FIVB.org. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  18. "Six teams line up for Volleyball Challenger Cup and one open berth in 2019 Men's VNL". FIVB.org. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  19. Events: Fivb Volleyball Nations League | Sears Centre Arena
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