1978 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship

The 1978 FIVB Men's World Championship was the ninth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 20 September 1 to October 1978 in Italy.

1978 FIVB World Championship

Tournament details
Host nation	Italy
Dates	20 September – 1 October
Teams	24
Venue(s)	6 (in 6 host cities)
Officially opened by	Sandro Pertini
Champions	Soviet Union (5th title)

Qualification

Means of qualification	Date	Host	Vacancies	Qualified
Host Country	—	—	1	Italy
1974 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship	12–28 October 1974	Mexico	12	Poland
				Soviet Union
				Japan
				East Germany
				Czechoslovakia
				Romania
				Bulgaria
				Cuba
				Brazil
				Mexico
				Belgium
				Netherlands
1977 Men's European Volleyball Championship	25 Sep – 2 Oct 1977	Finland	3	Hungary
				Yugoslavia Finland*
				France
Asian Qualifier	16–21 November 1976	Hong Kong	2	South Korea
				China
1977 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship	23–30 April 1977	Santo Domingo	2	Canada
				Puerto Rico United States*
1977 Men's South American Volleyball Championship	26 Feb – 5 Mar 1977	Lima	2	Venezuela
				Argentina
1976 Men's African Volleyball Championship	1976	Tunis	2	Egypt
				Tunisia
Total			24

* Yugoslavia and Puerto Rico withdrew and were replaced by Finland and United States.

Venues

Pool A, G, H and Final round	Pool B	Rome Bergamo Udine Venice Parma Ancona class=notpageimage| 1978 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Italy)
Rome, Italy	Bergamo, Italy
Pool C	Pool D, I, J and Final round
Udine, Italy	Venice, Italy
Pool E	Pool F
Parma, Italy	Ancona, Italy

Teams

Group A

• Belgium
• China
• Egypt
• Italy

Group B

• Finland
• Mexico
• Poland
• Venezuela

Group C

• Brazil
• France
• Soviet Union
• Tunisia

Group D

• Argentina
• Cuba
• Hungary
• Japan

Group E

• Bulgaria
• Canada
• East Germany
• Netherlands

Group F

• Czechoslovakia
• Romania
• South Korea
• United States

Results

First round

Pool A

Location: Rome

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Italy	3	3	0	6	9	1	9.000	141	84	1.679	1st–12th pools
2	China	3	2	1	5	7	4	1.750	145	116	1.250
3	Belgium	3	1	2	4	4	8	0.500	131	156	0.840	13th–24th pools
4	Egypt	3	0	3	3	2	9	0.222	98	159	0.616

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
20 Sep	15:00	Italy	3–0	Belgium	15–6	15–5	15–11			45–22
20 Sep	17:30	China	3–0	Egypt	15–13	15–6	15–6			45–25
21 Sep		China	3–1	Belgium	15–10	15–6	11–15	15–9		56–40
21 Sep		Italy	3–0	Egypt	15–5	15–4	15–9			45–18
22 Sep	17:30	Belgium	3–2	Egypt	17–15	15–1	10–15	12–15	15–9	69–55
22 Sep	21:00	Italy	3–1	China	15–8	6–15	15–11	15–10		51–44

Pool B

Location: Bergamo

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Poland	3	3	0	6	9	1	9.000	148	75	1.973	1st–12th pools
2	Mexico	3	2	1	5	6	6	1.000	135	144	0.938
3	Venezuela	3	1	2	4	4	8	0.500	119	166	0.717	13th–24th pools
4	Finland	3	0	3	3	5	9	0.556	163	180	0.906

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
20 Sep	17:30	Mexico	3–1	Venezuela	15–13	15–6	13–15	15–3		58–37
20 Sep	21:00	Poland	3–1	Finland	15–8	15–6	13–15	15–9		58–38
21 Sep		Poland	3–0	Venezuela	15–4	15–7	15–12			45–23
21 Sep		Mexico	3–2	Finland	9–15	15–13	15–9	9–15	15–10	63–62
22 Sep	17:30	Venezuela	3–2	Finland	15–11	7–15	7–15	15–13	15–9	59–63
22 Sep	21:00	Poland	3–0	Mexico	15–3	15–7	15–4			45–14

Pool C

Location: Udine

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Soviet Union	3	3	0	6	9	1	9.000	148	71	2.085	1st–12th pools
2	Brazil	3	2	1	5	7	4	1.750	151	125	1.208
3	France	3	1	2	4	4	6	0.667	106	121	0.876	13th–24th pools
4	Tunisia	3	0	3	3	0	9	0.000	47	135	0.348

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
20 Sep	17:30	Brazil	3–0	Tunisia	15–10	15–2	15–8			45–20
20 Sep	21:00	Soviet Union	3–0	France	15–6	15–6	15–2			45–14
21 Sep		France	3–0	Tunisia	15–7	15–4	15–6			45–17
21 Sep		Soviet Union	3–1	Brazil	11–15	17–15	15–8	15–9		58–47
22 Sep	17:30	Soviet Union	3–0	Tunisia	15–1	15–2	15–7			45–10
22 Sep	21:00	Brazil	3–1	France	15–11	15–13	14–16	15–7		59–47

Pool D

Location: Venice

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Cuba	3	3	0	6	9	1	9.000	147	83	1.771	1st–12th pools
2	Japan	3	2	1	5	7	4	1.750	150	110	1.364
3	Hungary	3	1	2	4	4	6	0.667	97	124	0.782	13th–24th pools
4	Argentina	3	0	3	3	0	9	0.000	58	135	0.430

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
20 Sep	17:30	Cuba	3–0	Argentina	15–1	15–10	15–8			45–19
20 Sep	21:00	Japan	3–1	Hungary	15–6	15–9	12–15	15–6		57–36
21 Sep	15:00	Cuba	3–1	Japan	11–15	16–14	15–7	15–12		57–48
21 Sep		Hungary	3–0	Argentina	15–6	15–6	15–10			45–22
22 Sep	17:30	Japan	3–0	Argentina	15–3	15–3	15–11			45–17
22 Sep	21:00	Cuba	3–0	Hungary	15–1	15–9	15–6			45–16

Pool E

Location: Parma

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Bulgaria	3	3	0	6	9	1	9.000	146	78	1.872	1st–12th pools
2	East Germany	3	2	1	5	6	3	2.000	108	93	1.161
3	Netherlands	3	1	2	4	3	8	0.375	111	145	0.766	13th–24th pools
4	Canada	3	0	3	3	3	9	0.333	119	168	0.708

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
20 Sep	17:30	Bulgaria	3–1	Canada	11–15	15–10	15–5	15–10		56–40
20 Sep	21:00	East Germany	3–0	Netherlands	15–11	15–6	15–7			45–24
21 Sep		East Germany	3–0	Canada	15–4	15–11	15–9			45–24
21 Sep		Bulgaria	3–0	Netherlands	15–5	15–7	15–8			45–20
22 Sep	17:30	Netherlands	3–2	Canada	9–15	13–15	15–13	15–4	15–8	67–55
22 Sep	21:00	Bulgaria	3–0	East Germany	15–8	15–4	15–6			45–18

Pool F

Location: Ancona

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	South Korea	3	3	0	6	9	3	3.000	170	126	1.349	1st–12th pools
2	Czechoslovakia	3	2	1	5	8	5	1.600	166	149	1.114
3	Romania	3	1	2	4	6	6	1.000	152	166	0.916	13th–24th pools
4	United States	3	0	3	3	0	9	0.000	93	140	0.664

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
20 Sep	17:30	Romania	3–0	United States	17–15	15–8	18–16			50–39
20 Sep	21:00	South Korea	3–2	Czechoslovakia	15–7	8–15	15–12	12–15	15–5	65–54
21 Sep		Czechoslovakia	3–0	United States	15–5	15–10	15–12			45–27
21 Sep		South Korea	3–1	Romania	14–16	16–14	15–3	15–12		60–45
22 Sep	15:00	South Korea	3–0	United States	15–8	15–11	15–8			45–27
22 Sep	21:00	Czechoslovakia	3–2	Romania	15–11	15–12	14–16	8–15	15–3	67–57

Second round

The results and the points of the matches between the same teams that were already played during the first round are taken into account for the second round.

1st–12th pools

Pool G

Location: Rome

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Soviet Union	5	5	0	10	15	3	5.000	254	160	1.588	Finals
2	Italy	5	4	1	9	12	7	1.714	249	224	1.112
3	China	5	2	3	7	10	10	1.000	244	244	1.000	5th–8th places
4	Brazil	5	2	3	7	10	11	0.909	277	261	1.061
5	Bulgaria	5	2	3	7	7	11	0.636	195	221	0.882	9th–12th places
6	East Germany	5	0	5	5	3	15	0.200	150	259	0.579

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
24 Sep	11:00	Bulgaria	3–2	China	8–15	15–10	15–8	14–16	15–10	67–59
24 Sep	14:30	Soviet Union	3–0	East Germany	15–3	15–7	15–11			45–21
24 Sep	19:00	Italy	3–2	Brazil	14–16	15–12	10–15	15–10	17–15	71–68
25 Sep	09:00	Soviet Union	3–1	Bulgaria	15–7	15–6	7–15	15–8		52–36
25 Sep	11:00	China	3–1	Brazil	15–10	15–13	15–17	15–13		60–53
25 Sep	19:00	Italy	3–1	East Germany	15–8	15–7	15–17	15–5		60–37
26 Sep	09:00	Soviet Union	3–1	China	15–8	15–7	9–15	15–6		54–36
26 Sep	11:00	Brazil	3–2	East Germany	11–15	15–10	15–11	8–15	15–4	64–55
26 Sep	19:00	Italy	3–0	Bulgaria	15–9	15–6	17–15			47–30
27 Sep	11:00	China	3–0	East Germany	15–5	15–3	15–11			45–19
27 Sep	14:30	Brazil	3–0	Bulgaria	15–3	15–7	15–7			45–17
27 Sep	16:30	Soviet Union	3–0	Italy	15–11	15–6	15–3			45–20

Pool H

Location: Rome

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Cuba	5	5	0	10	15	5	3.000	283	213	1.329	Finals
2	South Korea	5	3	2	8	12	9	1.333	266	249	1.068
3	Poland	5	3	2	8	10	9	1.111	229	221	1.036	5th–8th places
4	Czechoslovakia	5	2	3	7	11	9	1.222	241	227	1.062
5	Japan	5	2	3	7	9	10	0.900	240	222	1.081	9th–12th places
6	Mexico	5	0	5	5	0	15	0.000	98	225	0.436

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
24 Sep	09:00	South Korea	3–0	Mexico	15–8	15–7	15–7			45–22
24 Sep	16:30	Cuba	3–2	Czechoslovakia	15–8	7–15	15–3	13–15	15–10	65–51
24 Sep	21:00	Poland	3–2	Japan	13–15	15–12	5–15	15–10	15–9	63–61
25 Sep	14:30	Poland	3–1	Czechoslovakia	15–9	3–15	15–10	15–10		48–44
25 Sep	16:30	Japan	3–0	Mexico	15–6	15–3	15–12			45–21
25 Sep	21:00	Cuba	3–2	South Korea	17–15	12–15	15–13	12–15	15–7	71–65
26 Sep	14:30	Czechoslovakia	3–0	Japan	15–9	15–6	17–15			47–30
26 Sep	16:30	Cuba	3–0	Mexico	15–9	15–2	15–11			45–22
26 Sep	21:00	South Korea	3–1	Poland	15–7	11–15	16–14	15–10		57–46
27 Sep	09:00	Czechoslovakia	3–0	Mexico	15–4	15–13	15–2			45–19
27 Sep	19:00	Cuba	3–0	Poland	15–8	15–10	15–9			45–27
27 Sep	21:00	Japan	3–1	South Korea	15–4	15–9	11–15	15–6		56–34

13th–24th pools

Pool I

Location: Venice

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	France	5	5	0	10	15	2	7.500	248	128	1.938	13th–16th places
2	Netherlands	5	4	1	9	14	5	2.800	266	201	1.323
3	Canada	5	3	2	8	11	8	1.375	236	232	1.017	17th–20th places
4	Belgium	5	2	3	7	6	11	0.545	173	217	0.797
5	Egypt	5	1	4	6	7	12	0.583	219	266	0.823	21st–23rd places
6	Tunisia	5	0	5	5	0	15	0.000	129	227	0.568

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
24 Sep	09:00	Belgium	3–0	Tunisia	16–14	15–3	15–10			46–27
24 Sep	11:00	Netherlands	3–0	Egypt	15–11	17–15	16–14			48–40
24 Sep	14:30	France	3–0	Canada	15–9	15–6	5–6			45–21
25 Sep	09:00	Netherlands	3–0	Tunisia	15–2	15–10	15–12			45–24
25 Sep	11:00	Canada	3–2	Egypt	12–15	15–11	15–11	12–15	15–13	69–65
25 Sep	14:30	France	3–0	Belgium	15–5	15–8	15–2			45–15
26 Sep	09:00	France	3–0	Egypt	15–5	15–5	15–4			45–14
26 Sep	11:00	Canada	3–0	Tunisia	16–14	15–4	15–8			46–26
26 Sep	14:30	Netherlands	3–0	Belgium	15–2	15–4	15–8			45–14
27 Sep	09:00	Egypt	3–0	Tunisia	15–13	15–12	15–10			45–35
27 Sep	11:00	France	3–2	Netherlands	15–9	13–15	10–15	15–11	15–11	68–61
27 Sep	14:30	Canada	3–0	Belgium	15–6	15–10	11–13			45–29

Pool J

Location: Venice

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	Pts	SW	SL	SR	SPW	SPL	SPR	Qualification
1	Hungary	5	4	1	9	13	5	2.600	243	183	1.328	13th–16th places
2	Romania	5	4	1	9	13	7	1.857	272	218	1.248
3	United States	5	3	2	8	11	7	1.571	251	205	1.224	17th–20th places
4	Finland	5	2	3	7	9	12	0.750	241	264	0.913
5	Venezuela	5	2	3	7	8	12	0.667	208	264	0.788	21st–23rd places
6	Argentina	5	0	5	5	4	15	0.267	176	257	0.685

Source:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
24 Sep	16:30	Hungary	3–0	Venezuela	15–10	15–6	15–2			45–18
24 Sep	19:00	Finland	3–2	United States	13–15	9–15	18–16	15–12	15–7	70–65
24 Sep	21:00	Romania	3–2	Argentina	15–7	11–15	15–8	11–15	15–8	67–53
25 Sep	16:30	Hungary	3–1	Finland	12–15	15–10	15–10	15–6		57–41
25 Sep	19:00	United States	3–0	Argentina	15–8	15–3	15–6			45–17
25 Sep	21:00	Romania	3–2	Venezuela	15–12	13–15	15–7	7–15	15–5	65–54
26 Sep	16:30	United States	3–1	Hungary	15–9	16–14	11–15	15–6		57–44
26 Sep	19:00	Romania	3–0	Finland	15–10	15–7	15–3			45–20
26 Sep	21:00	Venezuela	3–1	Argentina	15–6	15–12	8–15	15–13		53–46
27 Sep	16:30	United States	3–0	Venezuela	15–11	15–1	15–12			45–24
27 Sep	19:00	Hungary	3–1	Romania	15–8	7–15	15–10	15–12		52–45
27 Sep	21:00	Finland	3–1	Argentina	2–15	15–8	15–13	15–2		47–38

Final round

21st–24th places

	21st–24th semifinals				21st place
	30 September
	Venezuela	3
					1 October
	Tunisia	0
					Venezuela	3
	30 September
					Argentina	0
	Argentina	3
	Egypt	1
					23rd place
					1 October
					Tunisia	0
					Egypt	3

21st–24th semifinals

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
30 Sep	Venezuela	3–0	Tunisia	15–12	15–8	15–8			45–28
30 Sep	Argentina	3–1	Egypt	15–8	10–15	15–8	15–10		55–41

23rd place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Tunisia	0–3	Egypt	4–15	5–15	10–15			19–45

21st place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Venezuela	3–0	Argentina	15–7	15–10	15–7			45–24

17th–20th places

	17th–20th semifinals				17th place
	30 September
	Belgium	3
					1 October
	United States	1
					Belgium	0
	30 September
					Finland	3
	Finland	3
	Canada	0
					19th place
					1 October
					United States	3
					Canada	0

17th–20th semifinals

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
30 Sep	Belgium	3–1	United States	15–12	15–10	12–15	15–10		57–47
30 Sep	Finland	3–0	Canada	15–10	15–4	15–10			45–24

19th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	United States	3–0	Canada	15–4	15–9	15–8			45–21

17th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Belgium	0–3	Finland	13–15	8–15	13–15			34–45

13th–16th places

	13th–16th semifinals				13th place
	30 September – Venice
	Romania	3
					1 October – Venice
	France	1
					Romania	3
	30 September – Venice
					Hungary	1
	Hungary	3
	Netherlands	1
					15th place
					1 October – Venice
					France	3
					Netherlands	1

13th–16th semifinals

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
30 Sep	Romania	3–1	France	11–15	15–12	15–2	15–5		56–34
30 Sep	Hungary	3–1	Netherlands	15–9	13–15	15–7	15–5		58–36

15th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	France	3–1	Netherlands	15–4	15–7	11–15	15–7		56–33

13th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Romania	3–1	Hungary	10–15	15–12	15–4	15–7		55–38

9th–12th places

	9th–12th semifinals				9th place
	30 September
	Bulgaria	3
					1 October
	Mexico	2
					Bulgaria	1
	30 September
					East Germany	3
	Japan	1
	East Germany	3
					11th place
					1 October
					Mexico	1
					Japan	3

9th–12th semifinals

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
30 Sep	09:00	Bulgaria	3–2	Mexico	12–15	15–8	13–15	15–12	15–12	70–62
30 Sep	14:30	Japan	1–3	East Germany	8–15	15–7	11–15	7–15		41–52

11th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Mexico	1–3	Japan	15–12	7–15	3–15	5–15		30–57

9th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Bulgaria	1–3	East Germany	15–6	9–15	10–15	10–15		44–51

5th–8th places

	5th–8th semifinals				5th place
	30 September
	China	1
					1 October
	Czechoslovakia	3
					Czechoslovakia	3
	30 September
					Brazil	2
	Poland	0
	Brazil	3
					7th place
					1 October
					China	3
					Poland	2

5th–8th semifinals

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
30 Sep	11:00	China	1–3	Czechoslovakia	16–14	7–15	5–15	12–15		40–59
30 Sep	16:00	Poland	0–3	Brazil	11–15	12–15	7–15			30–45

7th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	China	3–2	Poland	12–15	15–13	11–15	15–13	15–13	68–69

5th place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Czechoslovakia	3–2	Brazil	5–15	16–14	4–15	15–11	15–6	55–66

Finals

	Semifinals				Final
	30 September – Rome
	Cuba	1
					1 October – Rome
	Italy	3
					Italy	0
	30 September – Rome
					Soviet Union	3
	Soviet Union	3
	South Korea	0
					3rd place
					1 October – Rome
					Cuba	3
					South Korea	1

Semifinals

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
30 Sep	19:00	Cuba	1–3	Italy	17–15	11–15	14–16	12–15		54–61
30 Sep	21:00	Soviet Union	3–0	South Korea	15–3	15–3	15–9			45–15

3rd place match

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Cuba	3–1	South Korea	17–15	15–9	13–15	15–5		60–44

Final

Date		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total
1 Oct	Italy	0–3	Soviet Union	10–15	13–15	1–15			24–45

Final standing

Rank	Team
	Soviet Union
	Italy
	Cuba
4	South Korea
5	Czechoslovakia
6	Brazil
7	China
8	Poland
9	East Germany
10	Bulgaria
11	Japan
12	Mexico
13	Romania
14	Hungary
15	France
16	Netherlands
17	Finland
18	Belgium
19	United States
20	Canada
21	Venezuela
22	Argentina
23	Egypt
24	Tunisia

1978 Men's World champions
Soviet Union 5th title

External links

• Federation Internationale de Volleyball