FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup

The FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup was an international volleyball competition contested by the senior men's and women's national teams of the members of (FIVB), the sport's global governing body. The tournament was created in 1993 after radical changes made on the biggest tournaments organised by the FIVB. The main goal was not to have a single year without two high-profile world-level volleyball competitions, alongside the pre-existing men's and women's world championship, men's and women's world cup and the volleyball tournament at the Olympic Games which are all quadrennial and the annual men's and women's Nations League.

The World Grand Champions Cup was therefore played quadrennially the year after the Olympic Games and is always hosted by the Japan Volleyball Association. It did not give any points for the World Ranking.

Brazil has been the most successful team in the men's tournament, having won five of the seven editions. Brazil has also finished runners-up to Cuba and Italy in the only two occasions claimed by other national teams. The women's tournament history is more balanced with Brazil and China having won the tournament twice, while Cuba, Italy, and Russia have won one title each.

History The World Grand Champions Cup was created in 1993 after radical changes made on the biggest tournaments organised by the FIVB. The main goal was not to have a single year without a world FIVB competition. This is the only FIVB tournament that doesn't give FIVB points for the world ranking.

On 22 June 2023, Volleyball Calendar 2025–2028 approved by FIVB shown that World Championships to be played biannually in odd years. That meant the World Grand Champions Cup was discontinued and replaced by World Championships.

Winners Brazil has been the most successful team with the men's team winning five and the women's team two titles.

Competition formula The World Grand Champions Cup has always had the same formula since the first edition:

The competition takes place in Japan. Six teams participate in each event: host nation, four continental champions and one wild card. Japan is always pre-qualified as the host nation. Four continental champions from continents whose teams reached the highest ranking at the preceding Olympic Games. The remaining team participates through a wild card granted by the FIVB. A round robin format is used for this competition. Final standings are calculated by usual volleyball criteria: until 2013 match points, numbers of matches won, sets ratio (the total number of sets won divided by the total number of sets lost), points ratio, direct confrontation; since 2017 the first criterion became the number of matches won, followed by match points, sets ratio etc.

Result summary Men YearRound-robinChampionsRunners-up3rd placers4th placers5th placers6th placers1993Details1997Details2001Details2005Details2009Details2013Details2017Details

Women YearRound-robinChampionsRunners-up3rd placers4th placers5th placers6th placers1993Details1997Details2001Details2005Details2009Details2013Details2017Details

Medal summary Men

Women

All-time team records +Number of matches1Japan352Brazil303Republic of Korea254China255Russia256United States257Cuba108Dominican Republic109Thailand1010Poland5 +Wins1Brazil222China193Russia144United States145Japan136Cuba97Italy58Dominican Republic49Republic of Korea310Poland1 +Number of wins in games played1Italy100 %2Cuba90 %3China76 %4Brazil73 %5Russia56 %6United States56 %7Dominican Republic40 %8Japan37 %9Poland20 %10Republic of Korea12 %

(Based on W=2 pts and D=1 pts) TeamSFirsBestPtsMPWLGFGAdiff1Brazil619971st52302287632 +442Japan719933rd483513225574 -193China519931st44251966132 +294Russia519931st392514115545 +105United States519932nd392514115248 +46Republic of Korea519975th28253221471 -577Cuba219931st1910912810 +188Dominican Republic220093rd1410461520 -59Thailand220095th111019828 -2010Italy120091st10550153 +1211Poland120055th6514714 -712Peru119936th5505615 -9

Most valuable player by edition

Men 1993 – 1997 – 2001 – 2005 – 2009 – 2013 – 2017 –

Women 1993 – 1997 – 2001 – 2005 – 2009 – 2013 – 2017 –

FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup

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