FIVB Senior World Rankings

Ranking system for men's and women's national teams in volleyball

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

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, and after each game points will be added to or subtracted from a team's rating according to the formula:[4]

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

where:

  • S after {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}} – the team's number of World Ranking scores after the game
  • S before {\displaystyle S_{\text{before}}} – the team's number of World Ranking scores before the game
  • K {\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
  • R {\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)
  • E {\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.

Strength difference between the teams

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

where:

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

Probability of outcomes

Team A win 3–0
P 1 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 1 + Δ ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{1}}=\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{1}}+\Delta )}
Team A win 3–1
P 2 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 2 + Δ ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 1 + Δ ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{2}}=\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{2}}+\Delta )-\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{1}}+\Delta )}
Team A win 3–2
P 3 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 3 + Δ ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 2 + Δ ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{3}}=\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{3}}+\Delta )-\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{2}}+\Delta )}
Team A lose 2–3
P 4 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 4 + Δ ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 3 + Δ ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{4}}=\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{4}}+\Delta )-\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{3}}+\Delta )}
Team A lose 1–3
P 5 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 5 + Δ ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 4 + Δ ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{5}}=\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{5}}+\Delta )-\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{4}}+\Delta )}
Team A lose 0–3
P 6 = 1 − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( C 5 + Δ ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{6}}=1-\sim N(0,1)(C_{\text{5}}+\Delta )}

where:

  • C n {\displaystyle C_{\text{n}}} – the cut-points in the normal distribution that represent the average outcome of a match between two equal strength opponents derived from the actual match results of the past decade

Expected match result

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 {\displaystyle E=R_{\text{1}}P{\text{1}}+R_{\text{2}}P{\text{2}}+R_{\text{3}}P{\text{3}}+R_{\text{4}}P{\text{4}}+R_{\text{5}}P{\text{5}}+R_{\text{6}}P{\text{6}}}

where:

  • R n {\displaystyle R_{\text{n}}} – the actual result or set score variant
    • n = 1 {\displaystyle n=1} – A win 3–0
    • n = 2 {\displaystyle n=2} – A win 3–1
    • n = 3 {\displaystyle n=3} – A win 3–2
    • n = 4 {\displaystyle n=4} – A lose 2–3
    • n = 5 {\displaystyle n=5} – A lose 1–3
    • n = 6 {\displaystyle n=6} – A lose 0–3
Match Result R n {\displaystyle R_{\text{n}}} P n {\displaystyle P{\text{n}}}
A win 3–0 +2 P 1 {\displaystyle P{\text{1}}}
A win 3–1 +1.5 P 2 {\displaystyle P{\text{2}}}
A win 3–2 +1 P 3 {\displaystyle P{\text{3}}}
A lose 2–3 -1 P 4 {\displaystyle P{\text{4}}}
A lose 1–3 -1.5 P 5 {\displaystyle P{\text{5}}}
A lose 0–3 -2 P 6 {\displaystyle P{\text{6}}}

Examples

There are the examples of the new ranking procedure.

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
Δ = 8 ( 415 − 192 ) 1000 = 1.784 {\displaystyle \Delta ={8(415-192) \over 1000}=1.784}
Expected match result
The cut-points in the normal distribution based on head-to-head between two equal strength teams.
  • C 1 = − 1.060 {\displaystyle C_{\text{1}}=-1.060}
  • C 2 = − 0.364 {\displaystyle C_{\text{2}}=-0.364}
  • C 3 = 0.000 {\displaystyle C_{\text{3}}=0.000}
  • C 4 = 0.364 {\displaystyle C_{\text{4}}=0.364}
  • C 5 = 1.060 {\displaystyle C_{\text{5}}=1.060}


The cut-points in the normal distribution based on head-to-head between two teams after considering a strength difference.
  • P 1 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( − 1.060 + 1.784 ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{1}}=\sim N(0,1)(-1.060+1.784)}
  • P 2 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( − 0.364 + 1.784 ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( − 1.060 + 1.784 ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{2}}=\sim N(0,1)(-0.364+1.784)-\sim N(0,1)(-1.060+1.784)}
  • P 3 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( 0.000 + 1.784 ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( − 0.364 + 1.784 ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{3}}=\sim N(0,1)(0.000+1.784)-\sim N(0,1)(-0.364+1.784)}
  • P 4 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( 0.364 + 1.784 ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( 0.000 + 1.784 ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{4}}=\sim N(0,1)(0.364+1.784)-\sim N(0,1)(0.000+1.784)}
  • P 5 =∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( 1.060 + 1.784 ) − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( 0.364 + 1.784 ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{5}}=\sim N(0,1)(1.060+1.784)-\sim N(0,1)(0.364+1.784)}
  • P 5 = 1 − ∼ N ( 0 , 1 ) ( 1.060 + 1.784 ) {\displaystyle P_{\text{5}}=1-\sim N(0,1)(1.060+1.784)}

Expected match result for Brazil:

E = 76.5 % ( + 2 ) + 15.2 % ( + 1.5 ) + 4.5 % ( + 1 ) + 2.2 % ( − 1 ) + 1.2 % ( − 1.5 ) + 0.2 % ( − 2 ) = + 1.76 {\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:

E = 0.2 % ( + 2 ) + 1.2 % ( + 1.5 ) + 2.2 % ( + 1 ) + 4.5 % ( − 1 ) + 15.2 % ( − 1.5 ) + 76.5 % ( − 2 ) = − 1.76 {\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:

S after = 415 + 45 ( 2 − 1.76 ) 8 = 416.35 {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(2-1.76) \over 8}=416.35}

World Ranking scores for Japan:

S after = 192 + 45 ( − 2 + 1.76 ) 8 = 190.65 {\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:

S after = 415 + 45 ( 1.5 − 1.76 ) 8 = 413.54 {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(1.5-1.76) \over 8}=413.54}

World Ranking scores for Japan:

S after = 192 + 45 ( − 1.5 + 1.76 ) 8 = 193.46 {\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:

S after = 415 + 45 ( 1 − 1.76 ) 8 = 410.73 {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(1-1.76) \over 8}=410.73}

World Ranking scores for Japan:

S after = 192 + 45 ( − 1 + 1.76 ) 8 = 196.27 {\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:

S after = 415 + 45 ( − 2 − 1.76 ) 8 = 393.85 {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(-2-1.76) \over 8}=393.85}

World Ranking scores for Japan:

S after = 192 + 45 ( 2 + 1.76 ) 8 = 213.15 {\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:

S after = 415 + 45 ( − 1.5 − 1.76 ) 8 = 396.66 {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(-1.5-1.76) \over 8}=396.66}

World Ranking scores for Japan:

S after = 192 + 45 ( 1.5 + 1.76 ) 8 = 210.34 {\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:

S after = 415 + 45 ( − 1 − 1.76 ) 8 = 399.48 {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{415}}+{45(-1-1.76) \over 8}=399.48}

World Ranking scores for Japan:

S after = 192 + 45 ( 1 + 1.76 ) 8 = 207.52 {\displaystyle S_{\text{after}}={\text{192}}+{45(1+1.76) \over 8}=207.52}

World and 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 20 rankings as of 31 January 2024[5]
Rank Change Team Points
1 Steady  Poland 421.14
2 Steady  United States 390.91
3 Steady  Italy 342.43
4 Steady  Japan 340.3
5 Steady  Brazil 338.17
6 Steady  Argentina 314.35
7 Steady  Slovenia 307.12
8 Steady  France 306.8
9 Steady  Serbia 253.22
10 Steady  Germany 249.1
11 Steady  Cuba 236.96
12 Steady  Canada 222.17
13 Steady  Netherlands 214.58
14 Steady  Turkey 210.73
15 Steady  Iran 207.82
16 Steady  Ukraine 197.6
17 Steady  Belgium 182.2
18 Steady  Egypt 164.05
19 Steady  Czech Republic 160.71
20 Steady  Bulgaria 160.07
*Change from 19 August 2023
Complete rankings at volleyballworld.com

Current women's top teams

Top 20 rankings as of 18 October 2023[6]
Rank Change Team Points
1 Steady  Turkey 397.46
2 Steady  United States 358.62
3 Steady  Brazil 352.55
4 Steady  Serbia 350.86
5 Steady  Italy 338.97
6 Steady  China 329.65
7 Steady  Poland 327.89
8 Steady  Dominican Republic 308.86
9 Steady  Japan 305.09
10 Steady  Netherlands 287.94
11 Steady  Canada 265.66
12 Steady  Germany 228.36
13 Steady  Thailand 222
14 Steady  Belgium 199.57
15 Steady  France 184.99
16 Steady  Puerto Rico 177.67
17 Steady  Argentina 177.17
18 Steady  Czech Republic 171.96
19 Steady  Ukraine 171.3
20 Steady  Bulgaria 165.39
*Change from 4 September 2023
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

  • iconVolleyball portal

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. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. ^ "The FIVB Women's World Ranking". FIVB. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Tableau Public". public.tableau.com.
  8. ^ "Tableau Public". public.tableau.com.
  • Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). "FIVB World Rankings". Retrieved 2022-12-18.
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