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The Volleyball World Championships are the first and most important world volleyball event created by the FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball). The first Men's Championship was held in Prague in 1949, and the Women's in Moscow in 1952. The Championships have tradition and prestige equivalent to the World Cup of soccer, and to attain the title of "Volleyball World Champions" is one of the highest honours in international sports.
An astounding 217 countries and regions are given equal opportunity to compete - exceeding the number of IOC (International Olympic Committee) members. After taking part in a full year of continental qualifying rounds, only the 24 best male and 24 best female teams will be able to compete in the final rounds. In 2006, following an interval of eight years, Japan will again be the host of both the Men's and Women's Championships.
A total of 48 teams (24 men's and 24 women's) will compete in the final round of the World Championships - more than the number of teams that competes in the Olympics or in the World Cup (12). The 2006 Championships will be the 16th Men's Championship and 15th Women's Championship, surpassing even the Olympic history of 11 competitions. Starting this year, opening qualifying rounds for the 2006 Volleyball World Championships in Japan will be taking place worldwide, lasting 12 months. A record number of 174 teams from all over the world will compete for the only 44 openings available in the final round. Five continents will become battlegrounds for those aiming to reach the ultimate round in Japan and win the title of Volleyball World Champions.
The Japanese Men's and Women's teams (host country), the Brazilian Men's team and the Italian Women's team (2002 World Champions) have already qualified for the final round.
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