The Olympic Games bring together the best volleyball teams from all over the world. Twelve women’s teams and twelve men’s teams will compete for spots on the podium. Countries are divided into three groups of four with the aim of finishing in the top two places to make it to the semi-finals. The two winners of the semi-finals meet in the final.
At the Tokyo Olympics, nobody thought the French men’s volleyball team stood a chance but it won a gold medal for the first time. In Paris this year, the French team is one of the favorites, and the crowds will be cheering it on as it plays on its home turf. Volleyball wasn’t that popular in France before the win but this is starting to change. France will play in Pool A at the Olympics against Slovenia, Canada, and Serbia, and predictions are that it will win.
United States
The United States men’s team ranks sixth ahead of the Paris games. The U.S. women’s volleyball team won its first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics after beating Brazil. It is sitting fifth in the women’s rankings going into the 2024 Olympics. The United States has won 11 Olympic medals altogether for volleyball. This is the same amount as Brazil and only less than the Soviet Union which dominated volleyball in days gone by.
Sports betting is now legal in most states in the U.S. Sportsbooks in Pennsylvania and other states will be gearing up for the volleyball competition which begins on Saturday, July 27, and finishes on August 11. The United States will play in Pool C with Japan, Argentina, and Germany. Predictions are that Japan and the United States will finish in first and second place.
Poland
Poland dominates the men’s world rankings and won the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) title and the European Championship in 2023. The Polish men’s team has won multiple World Championships and World League titles. The women’s team competes strongly in European competitions. The Polish men’s team will be trying to win its first Olympic medal in 48 years. Its offense is one of the best in international volleyball.
Brazil
Brazil has a love for volleyball that shows in its numerous World Championship titles and Olympic medals. The men’s and women’s teams have dominated the sport for decades. The men’s team has won three Olympic gold medals and three World Championships. The women’s team also has Olympic gold medals and World Championship titles. Brazil and Poland will meet in Pool B at the Paris Olympics.
Italy
Italy is a volleyball powerhouse, with both men’s and women’s teams consistently performing well in national and international competitions. It appears in third place in the World Rankings and will try to win a medal as it didn’t achieve this in Tokyo. The men’s team regularly wins European Championship and World League titles. It has the highest-ranked women’s national volleyball team worldwide in the International Volleyball Federation’s world rankings and will be looking forward to the next volleyball season. Italy will also play in Pool B at the Olympics against Poland and Brazil. Egypt could have a hard time trying to beat the other heavyweights in this pool but anything is possible.
Japan
Japan is a rising power in volleyball. The women’s team won Olympic gold in 1964 and 1976. The men’s team performs well in Asian and international competitions. The FIVB Volleyball World Cup is an international volleyball competition that Japan began to host in 1977 and has hosted ever since. The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) has about 22 member nations who compete in this competition.
