Italy Draw Belgium, Colombia and Puerto Rico as 2027 Women’s World Cup Pools Are Revealed

The road to the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup is now taking shape. The draw, held in Los Angeles on this day, October 26, 2026, divided the 32 participating national teams into eight pools of four, setting the stage for a tournament that will also offer three Olympic qualification places for Los Angeles 2028 to the highest-ranked teams not already qualified.

Reigning world champions Italy will begin their title defence in Pool A, where they will face Belgium, Colombia and Puerto Rico. The Azzurre, who claimed the 2025 world crown in Bangkok, will play their pool matches in Omaha, Nebraska, before the competition moves into its knockout phase.

Brazil, one of the traditional powers of women’s volleyball, headline Pool B alongside Czechia, Kenya and South Korea. Pool C brings together European champions Türkiye, the Dominican Republic, France and Egypt, while hosts USA will face Thailand, Mexico and Greece in Pool D. Both Pools B and D will be played in Orlando, Florida.

Pool E promises an intriguing European battle, with Poland drawn alongside Germany and Slovenia, while Cuba completes the line-up. Japan, Russia, Argentina and Bulgaria will compete in Pool F. The two remaining groups feature the co-hosts Canada, who will meet Serbia, Ukraine and Cameroon in Pool G, and China, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland in Pool H.

For Switzerland, the draw marks another milestone in the development of the national team: the country will make its first appearance at the Women’s World Cup. The Swiss will face a demanding challenge against China, a major force in international volleyball, as well as the Netherlands and Sweden. All four Pool H teams will play in Quebec City, Canada.

The tournament will take place from August 20 to September 5, 2027, across five cities in the United States and Canada.
Pool matches will be staged in Omaha, Orlando, Montreal and Quebec City, while Anaheim, California, will host the decisive rounds at the Honda Center — a venue also set to stage the indoor volleyball competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The format leaves little room for error: the top two teams in each pool will advance to the Round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and medal matches. With the three best-ranked teams not yet qualified for LA28 earning Olympic berths, the World Cup will carry significance beyond the world title itself.

The eight pools:
• Pool A — Omaha: Italy, Belgium, Colombia, Puerto Rico
• Pool B — Orlando: Brazil, Czechia, Kenya, South Korea
• Pool C — Quebec City: Türkiye, Dominican Republic, France, Egypt
• Pool D — Orlando: USA, Thailand, Mexico, Greece
• Pool E — Montreal: Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Cuba
• Pool F — Omaha: Japan, Russia, Argentina, Bulgaria
• Pool G — Montreal: Canada, Serbia, Ukraine, Cameroon
• Pool H — Quebec City: China, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland

With the groups confirmed, the countdown to the 2027 edition can begin in earnest. Italy will aim to defend their crown, the hosts will look to make the most of home advantage, and Switzerland will have the opportunity to measure themselves against some of the world’s leading teams on the sport’s biggest stage.