Draw confirms first round pools for 2018 Women's World Championship

The composition of the four first round pools was confirmed at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Japan 2018 draw in Tokyo on Thursday.

Hosts Japan were paired with the Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Cameroon, Mexico in Pool A. Reigning Olympic champions China and Italy will take on Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba in Pool B. In Pool C, reigning world champions USA will play Russia, Korea, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Trinidad and Tobago, while Pool D will include Serbia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, Kenya.

Held at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, the draw split the 24 teams participating in the event into four first round pools of six teams each. Click here for more information on the competition format.

Next year's edition of the FIVB's flagship event for women's national teams will take place in the cities of Yokohama, Hamamatsu, Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka and Sapporo from September 29 to October 20. It will follow on from the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship Italy-Bulgaria 2018 from September 9 to 30. The draw for the Men's World Championship was held in Florence, Italy on November 30. Click here for more information.