The FIVB Executive Committee approved the appointment of Japan and Egypt into the 2013 edition of the World League at its meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
Sports Events Council’s proposal to expand the World League to 18 teams (three pools of six teams) for the first time in its history during its meeting earlier this month.
Egypt, who last participated in 2010, and Japan, who finished 15th in 2012, will join Pool C which consists of Canada, Korea, Finland and the Netherlands.
Pools A and B were determined using the serpentine system based on the world rankings as of August 13, 2012. Pool C features the next best four in the world rankings after the 12 teams in Pool A and B plus Egypt and Japan.
2013 World League pools:
Pool A: Brazil, Poland, USA, Bulgaria, Argentina and France
Pool B: Russia, Italy, Cuba, Serbia, Germany, Iran
Pool C: Canada, Korea, Finland, the Netherlands, Egypt, Japan
Eight teams will qualify for the World League Finals featuring the top three teams from Pools A and B, plus the winner of Pool C and the host country.
