The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is seriously considering moving the 2029 World Championship to the winter period – a move that could completely overturn the current club season model. The topic was touched upon in both the Polish editionsiatka.org, as well as in the Italianvolleyball.it, where the president of Lega Volley Serie A, Massimo Righi, provided additional clarity regarding the position of Italian clubs.
Two possible winter windows
A few months ago, reports appeared in international media that FIVB was analyzing the possibility of the 2029 World Cup taking place not in late summer or early autumn, as is traditional, but in winter. According to what was published in Poland, two specific periods are being discussed:
late November and early December 2029
January 2030
Such a change would mean holding the championship in the midst of the club season and imposing a break of over a month in national leagues, to allow players to join their respective national teams.
Change in the season structure
If the project is realized, leagues will have to start earlier to compensate for the interruption. This means a complete reorganization of the calendar – from preparation to the playoff phase.
The last World Championships (2025) were held according to the traditional schedule – the Philippines hosted the men's event, and Thailand hosted the women's. Italy triumphed in both tournaments – the women's team defeated Turkey in the final, and the men of "Squadra Azzurra" overcame Bulgaria in the title match with a score of 3:1. Poland won the bronze.
After the end of the World Cup, club championships in Poland started in October – TAURON Liga in the first half of the month, and PlusLiga on October 20th. This is the model FIVB is considering changing.
Italy's position: no expansion of the SuperLega
In Italy, the topic was commented on by the president of Lega Volley Serie A, Massimo Righi, during a television appearance. He categorically ruled out the possibility of expanding the SuperLega to 14 teams at least until the end of the Olympic cycle leading up to Los Angeles 2028.
The reason is the overloaded international calendar. According to Righi, the FIVB and CEV program foresees a series of events in a condensed cycle, which does not allow for adding four more rounds to the regular season. The only option would be to eliminate the playoffs – a scenario he deemed unfeasible in the current championship structure.
A look at the 2029–2032 period
Righi revealed that FIVB has already informed continental confederations of its intentions regarding the next four-year cycle (2029–2032). Among the options discussed is not only a winter World Cup but also the shifting of continental championships to the same time window – November–December or the transition between December and January.
If this becomes a reality, national championships will be interrupted for an extended period in winter. In return, the summer calendar will be significantly relieved – outside of the Volleyball Nations League, there will be no other major international events. This would lead to a better balance between club and national volleyball.
What follows?
The 2027 World Championship in Poland (September 10–26) will likely be the last one held under the traditional autumn model. The tournament will take place in Gdansk (Ergo Arena), Olsztyn (Hala Urania), Lodz (Atlas Arena), and Katowice ("Spodek").
Whether 2029 will mark the beginning of a new era in the global calendar will become clear in the coming months. One thing is certain – FIVB is preparing a strategic change that will directly affect clubs, national teams, and the entire architecture of professional volleyball.
