Brazil and Iran face each other in the FIVB Volleyball World League opener on June 16 in Rio de Janeiro
Lausanne, Switzerland, December 3, 2015 – Nine-time winners Brazil and Iran are primed for action in the 2016 FIVB Volleyball World League opener in Rio de Janeiro on June 16, which will followed by a match between 2014 winners the United States and Argentina in Pool B.
On June 17, reigning World League champions France are pitted against FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup runners-up Italy in Sydney, then hosts Australia will play against Belgium in the main header in Pool A. Bulgaria and Poland will open the matches in Pool C, followed by a match between Russia and World League runners-up Serbia in Kaliningrad. Brazil will face South American rivals Argentina, while USA will duel with Iran in Rio de Janeiro in Pool B.
Belgium and Italy will start the matches on June 18, succeeded by the Australia and France encounter in Sydney. The All-European clashes in Kaliningrad will start with the match of Bulgaria and Serbia, then followed by the match of Russia and Poland.
On June 19, Belgium will meet neighbours France, then Australia will contest with Italy in Pool A. Brazil will play USA in Pool B, while Serbia will face Poland in Pool C. Coach Julio Velasco’s former and current teams, Iran and Argentina, will conclude the first week of action in Pool B, while Russia will play Bulgaria in Pool C.
The second week will begin with a match between Iran and Bulgaria, followed by Serbia and Brazil in Pool F in Novi Sad, Serbia. Poland will host Argentina, Russia and France in Pool D; Italy will host Belgium, USA and Australia in the capital of Rome in Pool E.
Brazil and Poland will open the third week in Nancy, with hosts France and Belgium in Pool G. Iran will host Italy, Argentina and Serbia in Pool I; while USA will host Australia, Russia and Bulgaria in Pool H.
