FIVB Senior World Rankings

The FIVB Senior World Rankings is a ranking system for men's and women's national teams in volleyball. The teams of the member nations of Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), volleyball's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest. A points system is used, with points being awarded based on the results of all FIVB-recognised full international matches. The rankings are used in international competitions to define the seeded teams and arrange them in pools. Specific procedures for seeding and pooling are established by the FIVB in each competition's formula, but the method usually employed is the serpentine system.

The ranking system has been revamped in 2020, responding to criticism that the preceding calculation method did not effectively reflect the relative strengths of the national teams. The old version of the ranking system was finally used on 31 January 2020.

As of 23 July 2023, the highest ranked team in the men's category is Poland, while in the women's category is Turkey.

Previous calculation method

Main article: FIVB Senior World Ranking system (until 2020)

The system of point attribution for the selected FIVB World and Official Competitions below is as follows:^[1]

• Olympic Games and qualifying tournaments: included for 4 years and points are also granted for the qualification matches, to the best non-qualified teams.
• World Championship and qualifying tournaments: included for 4 years and points are also granted for the qualification matches, to the best non-qualified teams.
• World Cup: included for 4 years
• World Grand Prix: included for 1 year
• World League: included for 1 year

Current calculation method

In 2019, FIVB collaborated with Hypercube Business Innovation of the Netherlands to design a new world ranking platform. The previous calculation method had a problem of circularity in the international volleyball calendar: only countries who participate in the major volleyball events can earn ranking points, whilst the number of ranking points of countries also determines seeding and access of teams for major events. This unfair principle does not contribute to the sporting and commercial quality of volleyball.^[2]

On 1 February 2020, the new ranking system will be implemented and will take into account all results from 1 January 2019.^[3] The system will be consistently updated to reflect the latest results and performances. The new World Ranking considers the match results from all official competitions:

• Olympic Games and qualifying tournaments
• FIVB World Championship
• FIVB World Cup
• FIVB Nations League and Challenger Cup
• Confederations' Championship and qualifying tournaments
• Other annual official events organized by Continental Confederations.

The rankings outcome of each match depends on two main factors:

• The playing strength of the teams competing
• The actual match performance or final result of the match

Ranking Procedure

It is based on the zero-sum system, like CONCACAF Ranking Index or FIFA World ranking, where, after each game, points will be added to or subtracted from a team's rating according to the formula:^[4]

${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}=S_{\text{before}}+{K(R-E) \over 8}}$

where:

• ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}}$ – the team's number of World Ranking scores after the game
• ${\displaystyle S_{\text{before}}}$ – the team's number of World Ranking scores before the game
• ${\displaystyle K}$ – the match importance:
  • 10.0 – Other annual official events organized by Continental Confederations
  • 17.5 – Confederations' Championship qualifying
  • 20.0 – FIVB Challenger Cup
  • 35.0 – Olympic Games qualifying, FIVB World Cup and Confederations' Championship
  • 40.0 – FIVB Nations League
  • 45.0 – FIVB World Championship
  • 50.0 – Olympic Games
• ${\displaystyle R}$ – the result of the game depended on match and sets won (3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 1-3 or 0-3); see below
• ${\displaystyle E}$ – the expected result of the game has the value between -2 and +2. If the match is completely balanced, the expected result is 0. The bigger the surprise, the more points are transferred; see below for calculation details.

Match result

We set the result ${\displaystyle R=R_{n}}$, where ${\displaystyle n}$ is the index of the actual result (set score) ${\displaystyle n=1}$ – A win 3–0 ${\displaystyle n=2}$ – A win 3–1 ${\displaystyle n=3}$ – A win 3–2 ${\displaystyle n=4}$ – A lose 2–3 ${\displaystyle n=5}$ – A lose 1–3 ${\displaystyle n=6}$ – A lose 0–3

Match Result ${\displaystyle R_{n}}$ ${\displaystyle P_{n}}$ A win 3–0 +2 ${\displaystyle P{\text{1}}}$ A win 3–1 +1.5 ${\displaystyle P{\text{2}}}$ A win 3–2 +1 ${\displaystyle P{\text{3}}}$ A lose 2–3 -1 ${\displaystyle P{\text{4}}}$ A lose 1–3 -1.5 ${\displaystyle P{\text{5}}}$ A lose 0–3 -2 ${\displaystyle P{\text{6}}}$

Expected match result

The expected results is then calculated as ${\displaystyle E=R_{1}P_{1}+R_{2}P_{2}+R_{3}P_{3}+R_{4}P_{4}+R_{5}P_{5}+R_{6}P_{6}}$ where ${\displaystyle P_{n}}$ is the probability of the outcome ${\displaystyle R_{n}}$ obtained using the following model (known as Ordered probit):

Team A win 3–0

${\displaystyle P_{\text{1}}=\Phi (C_{\text{1}}+\Delta )}$

Team A win 3–1

${\displaystyle P_{\text{2}}=\Phi (C_{\text{2}}+\Delta )-\Phi (C_{\text{1}}+\Delta )}$

Team A win 3–2

${\displaystyle P_{\text{3}}=\Phi (C_{\text{3}}+\Delta )-\Phi (C_{\text{2}}+\Delta )}$

Team A lose 2–3

${\displaystyle P_{\text{4}}=\Phi (C_{\text{4}}+\Delta )-\Phi (C_{\text{3}}+\Delta )}$

Team A lose 1–3

${\displaystyle P_{\text{5}}=\Phi (C_{\text{5}}+\Delta )-\Phi (C_{\text{4}}+\Delta )}$

Team A lose 0–3

${\displaystyle P_{\text{6}}=1-\Phi (C_{\text{5}}+\Delta )}$

where ${\displaystyle \Phi (z)}$ is the Cumulative distribution function of the Normal distribution, and ${\displaystyle C_{1},\ldots ,C_{5}}$ are the cut-points

• ${\displaystyle C_{1}=-1.06}$
• ${\displaystyle C_{2}=-0.394}$
• ${\displaystyle C_{3}=0}$
• ${\displaystyle C_{4}=0.394}$
• ${\displaystyle C_{5}=1.06}$

set so that ${\displaystyle P_{n}}$ is the probability of the outcome ${\displaystyle n}$ between two equal strength opponents (that is when ${\displaystyle \Delta =0}$), which is derived from the actual match results of the past decade.

The cut-points in the normal distribution based on head-to-head between two equal strength teams, i.e ${\displaystyle \Delta =0}$.

The cut-points in the normal distribution based on head-to-head between two teams after considering a strength difference, i.e ${\displaystyle \Delta >0}$.

The parameter ${\displaystyle \Delta }$ represents the scaled difference of the teams rankings

${\displaystyle \Delta ={8(S_{\text{teamA}}-S_{\text{teamB}}) \over 1000}}$

where:

• ${\displaystyle S_{\text{teamA}}}$ – the team A's number of World Ranking scores before the game
• ${\displaystyle S_{\text{teamB}}}$ – the team B's number of World Ranking scores before the game

Examples

Before the match at the FIVB Volleyball World Championship (K = 45), Brazil (Team A) is ranked number 1 with a 415 WR score and Japan (Team B) is ranked number 11 with a 192 WR score.

Strength difference between Brazil and Japan

${\displaystyle \Delta ={8(415-192) \over 1000}=1.784}$

Expected match result

• ${\displaystyle P_{1}=\Phi (-1.060+1.784)}$
• ${\displaystyle P_{2}=\Phi (-0.364+1.784)-\Phi (-1.060+1.784)}$
• ${\displaystyle P_{3}=\Phi (0.000+1.784)-\Phi (-0.364+1.784)}$
• ${\displaystyle P_{4}=\Phi (0.364+1.784)-\Phi (0.000+1.784)}$
• ${\displaystyle P_{5}=\Phi (1.060+1.784)-\Phi (0.364+1.784)}$
• ${\displaystyle P_{6}=1-\Phi (1.060+1.784)}$

Expected match result for Brazil:

${\displaystyle E=76.5\%(+2)+15.2\%(+1.5)+4.5\%(+1)+2.2\%(-1)+1.2\%(-1.5)+0.2\%(-2)=+1.76}$

Expected match result for Japan:

${\displaystyle E=0.2\%(+2)+1.2\%(+1.5)+2.2\%(+1)+4.5\%(-1)+15.2\%(-1.5)+76.5\%(-2)=-1.76}$

World Ranking scores after Brazil win 3–0 World Ranking scores for Brazil: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(2-1.76) \over 8}=416.35}$ World Ranking scores for Japan: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{192}}+{45(-2+1.76) \over 8}=190.65}$ World Ranking scores after Brazil win 3–1 World Ranking scores for Brazil: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(1.5-1.76) \over 8}=413.54}$ World Ranking scores for Japan: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{192}}+{45(-1.5+1.76) \over 8}=193.46}$ World Ranking scores after Brazil win 3–2 World Ranking scores for Brazil: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(1-1.76) \over 8}=410.73}$ World Ranking scores for Japan: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{192}}+{45(-1+1.76) \over 8}=196.27}$

World Ranking scores after Brazil lose 0–3 World Ranking scores for Brazil: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(-2-1.76) \over 8}=393.85}$ World Ranking scores for Japan: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{192}}+{45(2+1.76) \over 8}=213.15}$ World Ranking scores after Brazil lose 1–3 World Ranking scores for Brazil: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(-1.5-1.76) \over 8}=396.66}$ World Ranking scores for Japan: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{192}}+{45(1.5+1.76) \over 8}=210.34}$ World Ranking scores after Brazil lose 2–3 World Ranking scores for Brazil: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(-1-1.76) \over 8}=399.48}$ World Ranking scores for Japan: ${\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{192}}+{45(1+1.76) \over 8}=207.52}$

World and Continental Rankings

Further information: FIVB Senior Continental Rankings

The five Continental Rankings filter the World Ranking points won and lost in matches played between teams from the same Continental Confederation.

• Intercontinental Tournaments – calculated in World Rankings, but some matches can be calculated in Continental Rankings
  • Olympic Games final and intercontinental qualification tournaments
  • FIVB World Championship final and intercontinental qualification tournaments
  • FIVB World Cup
  • FIVB Volleyball Nations League and Challenger Cup
  • some Continental Cups: Pan-America
  • some FIVB recognised international events, e.g. Pan American Games, Montreux Volley Masters

• Continental Tournaments – calculated in World and Continental Rankings
  • Olympic Games continental qualification tournaments
  • FIVB World Championship continental qualification tournaments
  • FIVB Challenger Cup qualification tournaments
  • Continental Championships: Asia (AVC), Africa (CAVB), Europe (CEV), North America (NORCECA), and South America (CSV)
  • some Continental Cups: Asia (both AVC Cup and Challenge Cup)
  • Zonal Championships, e.g. Eastern Asia, ASEAN, Central America
  • some FIVB recognised international events, e.g. African Games, Asian Games, European Games

Examples

Japan (Asian Volleyball Confederation) vs Italy (Confédération Européenne de Volleyball)
The points calculated in FIVB World Rankings.

Japan (Asian Volleyball Confederation) vs South Korea (Asian Volleyball Confederation)
The points calculated in FIVB World Rankings, and AVC Continental Rankings.

FIVB World Rankings

Current men's top teams

Top 30 rankings as of 30 August 2024[5]
Rank	Change	Team	Points
1		Poland	401.31
2	2	France	378.07
3	3	United States	365.87
4	1	Slovenia	352.5
5	2	Italy	346.23
6	3	Japan	338.12
7		Brazil	305.87
8	3	Germany	274.38
9	1	Argentina	266.94
10		Serbia	259.28
11	2	Canada	254.46
12		Cuba	249.34
13		Netherlands	204.81
14		Ukraine	196
15		Iran	185.07
16		Belgium	183.24
17		Turkey	175.28
18		Czech Republic	168.95
19		Bulgaria	161.06
20		Egypt	156.94
21		Qatar	151.46
22		Portugal	147.16
23	1	Finland	146.72
24	1	Tunisia	145.09
25	1	China	144.02
26	1	Romania	143.07
27	2	Chile	139.14
28		South Korea	138.48
29	6	Croatia	136.4
30		Puerto Rico	135.23
*Change from 10 July 2024
Complete rankings at volleyballworld.com

Current women's top teams

Top 30 rankings as of 30 August 2024[6]
Rank	Change	Team	Points
1		Italy	437.03
2		Brazil	407.09
3		United States	362.27
4		Turkey	352.61
5		China	350.3
6		Poland	349.75
7		Japan	325.18
8		Canada	284.76
9		Netherlands	283.99
10		Serbia	280.42
11		Dominican Republic	260.54
12		Germany	222.03
13		Thailand	194.91
14		Belgium	190.98
15		Czech Republic	189.61
16		Puerto Rico	182.58
17		Argentina	180.96
18		Ukraine	172.15
19		France	157.5
20		Bulgaria	153.92
21		Colombia	152.37
22		Kenya	152.15
23		Cuba	145.17
24		Sweden	138.57
25		Mexico	138.42
26		Slovenia	137.47
27		Cameroon	135.69
28		Slovakia	133.33
29		Spain	123.31
30		Greece	117.4
*Change from 10 July 2024
Complete rankings at volleyballworld.com

Historic men's leaders

For historical men's FIVB rankings from October 2005 to present.^[7]

Historic women's leaders

For historical women's FIVB rankings from September 2005 to present.^[8]

See also

• Volleyball portal

• FIVB Senior Continental Rankings
• FIVB Youth and Junior World Rankings

Notes and references

1. "FIVB World Ranking system". FIVB. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
2. "Ranking FIVB (2019)". Hypercube. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
3. "FIVB to introduce new World Ranking system for 2020". FIVB. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
4. "HOW IT WORKS" (PDF). FIVB. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
5. "The FIVB World Ranking". FIVB. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
6. "The FIVB Women's World Ranking". FIVB. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
7. "Tableau Public". public.tableau.com.
8. "Tableau Public". public.tableau.com.

• Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). "FIVB World Rankings". Retrieved 2022-12-18.