FIVB Board of Administration online meeting approves 2027–2028 budgets and Constitution revisions; ASOIF governance: FIVB earns A1 rating
Volleyball’s global momentum gathers pace as FIVB Board of Administration shapes next phase of growth – FIVB
Making volleyball more accessible, affordable and understandable to people everywhere remains at the heart of the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, as the Global Volleyball Movement works “Together as One” to grow the sport’s reach and impact around the world.
That ambition is being matched by remarkable momentum across the sport, highlighted by a thrilling VNL (Volleyball Nations League) 2026, with strong audiences, packed venues and world-class competition across the women’s and men’s events.
Against this backdrop, the FIVB Board of Administration met online on Friday to build on that momentum, advance key priorities and shape the next phase of the sport’s growth towards 2032.
A Global Volleyball Movement Fit for the Future
IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey joined the meeting to provide an update on the IOC’s Fit for the Future strategic direction, highlighting the strong alignment with the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032.
“What has been very clear across the board, and in the FIVB’s own strategy, is that it is about being athlete-first – having athletes at the centre, not only in the way we deliver sport but also in the way we govern it,” said Ducrey. “It is also about growing participation and understanding the impact we can create through sport. What you are doing across the volleyball ecosystem – working together to promote the sport, but also to change lives in a positive way – is very much aligned with this strategic direction.”
Ducrey also highlighted the new USD 10,000 “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant”, and the FIVB Board welcomed the IOC’s collaborative approach and expressed strong support for the athlete grant initiative.
Strong foundations for continued growth
The Board also approved various financial and audit reports. Together, they reflected a strong year of operational performance, with significant revenue growth, increased investment in empowering the Global Volleyball Movement and sustainable financial foundations for the future.
The Board also validated the FIVB Budgets for 2027–2028, which underline the FIVB’s continued commitment to investing significant resources back into the sport – helping the Global Volleyball Movement grow bigger, stronger and better, all “Together as One”. The Budgets will now be presented to the FIVB World Congress in November for final approval.
The FIVB’s continued focus on strong governance was also recognised by ASOIF Executive Director James Carr, who presented the latest ASOIF Governance Review to the Board.
In the most recent review the FIVB reached group A1 , the highest tier of the review, having progressed steadily from Group B in the first review in 2016–2017.
“Congratulations on your performance in the latest review. It demonstrates the progress that has been made over the last 10 years,” said Carr. “We identified 10 examples where the FIVB is leading the way – particularly around the Knowledge Transfer Programmes and governance support you provide to National Federations, the transparency around development funding and your work on anti-discrimination.”
The results of the ASOIF Governance Review provided a strong backdrop as the Board advanced a number of governance matters ahead of the 40th FIVB World Congress in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, later this year. The updates are aimed at ensuring the FIVB’s regulatory framework reflects the latest international best practices in good governance and remains aligned with the evolving needs of the sport.
As part of the comprehensive, collaborative and transparent review of the FIVB Regulations, the Board ratified proposed revisions to the FIVB Constitution. These will now be shared with all National Federations for feedback before being finalised and submitted to the Board for further approval, ahead of presentation to the FIVB World Congress in November.
Pathway forward for Philippine volleyball
Progress was made towards the reinstatement of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) within the Global Volleyball Movement.
Following the PNVF elections held on 10 August, the Board provisionally recognised the results and lifted the suspension of the PNVF, subject to continued compliance with the established eight-point roadmap .
The existing Ad Hoc Committee will now transition into a Steering Committee to monitor progress and continued compliance with the roadmap.
New format approved for FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Qatar
The Board approved an updated competition format for the FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Qatar following the withdrawal of the USA, Czechia, Puerto Rico and Japan.
The 20 participating teams will now compete across five pools of four, with the pools redrawn according to the serpentine system.
The FIVB also updated the Board on the close coordination with the Qatar Volleyball Association, local organisers and relevant authorities. With the safety and security of all athletes, officials and participants remaining the top priority, confidence was reiterated that the event will be delivered safely and as planned.
Expansion of the Global Volleyball Movement
The Board approved a proposal to bring current regional members into the FIVB as Associate Members, subject to receipt of the required affiliation documentation and the approval of the relevant FIVB Constitution changes.
The proposal will be presented to the FIVB World Congress in November for approval.
Volleyball World builds on VNL momentum
Volleyball World Chair Michael Payne highlighted the continued momentum behind the VNL, with record TV ratings in key strategic markets and packed arenas showcasing the competition’s global appeal. A VNL-record crowd of just under 18,000 attended in Nanjing, China, while matches in Osaka, Japan, sold out even when the host nation was not playing.
That momentum is also being matched by long-term confidence in the sport’s commercial future. Payne highlighted the recently announced extension of Volleyball World’s landmark partnership with the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) through to 2052 , supporting the continued evolution of the AVC’s brand and commercial approach as Asian volleyball looks to unlock its full potential.
Volleyball’s global energy shines on World Volleyball Day
The growing reach of the sport was brought vividly to life by World Volleyball Day 2026, with athletes, fans and communities joining celebrations around the globe. Volleyball appeared in iconic locations from Times Square in New York to Naples, while some of the sport’s biggest stars shared their own celebrations and stakeholders from across the Olympic Movement also joined the campaign.
At Volleyball House in Lausanne, elite players took to the air volleyball courts alongside local children and communities, while campaign giveaways gave fans unique opportunities to get closer to their favourite teams and athletes.
The momentum was also clear online. More than 3,500 social media mentions were recorded on the day – an increase of over 50% from 2025 – with World Volleyball Day trending on X and seeing a global reach of over 950 million.
Celebrating those who have shaped volleyball
Following the Board’s approval in May 2026 of “The Volleyball Order” , members approved a list of recommended nominees recognising outstanding contributions to the global development of volleyball. All will be revealed at the FIVB World Congress in November so stay tuned.
The road to 1.6 billion
From another outstanding edition of the VNL to growing engagement around the world and continued progress across governance, competitions and development, the meeting reflected a sport building from a position of strength.
With Strategic Vision 2032 providing the roadmap, the Global Volleyball Movement continues to move towards of its ambition of growing from 800 million to 1.6 billion people connected to the sport.
The FIVB Board will next meet to review the FIVB Constitution in October, before meeting again on 14 November, ahead of the 40th FIVB World Congress in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
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