Rome, Italy, September 7, 2018 - Co-hosts Italy will take on Japan in one of two matches opening the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship on Sunday. Japan are making their first appearance at the Men's World Championship since 2010, when the competition was also hosted by Italy.
Head-to-Head
- Italy and Japan have played each other four times at the World Championship, with both nations recording two victories.
- The first two matches between Italy and Japan at the World Championship were both won in a deciding set by the Japanese - in 1986 in Paris (qualification round 9-12) and in 1994 in Thessaloniki (group stage). The second of those defeats was the only loss the Italians suffered at the 1994 tournament as they went on to win the competition.
- The two most recent World Championship fixtures between Italy and Japan were both won by the Italians - 3-1 in Buenos Aires in 2002 (second group stage) and 3-0 in Milan in 2010 (first round).
- Japan beat Italy 3-2 in Osaka in the Volleyball Nations League on 10 June 2018. Neither team progressed to the final round, with the Italians finishing eighth and the Japanese 12th.
Italy
- Italy are one of four nations making their 17th appearance at a World Championship in the 2018 edition. Brazil, Czech Republic (including as Czechoslovakia) and Poland have the same number of participations. Only Russia (all 19, including as Soviet Union) and co-hosts Bulgaria (18) have participated in the tournament more times (totals include 2018).
- Italy have won the World Championship three times - 1990, 1994 and 1998. Only Russia (6, including as Soviet Union) have won the tournament on more occasions.
- Italy are the first nation to host the World Championship on three occasions - 1978, 2010 and 2018 (as co-hosts with Bulgaria). As hosts, they finished as runners-up in 1978 and fourth in 2010.
- The 2014 World Championship was won by host nation Poland. Only once before have consecutive editions of the tournament been won by the host nation - 1962 (Soviet Union) and 1966 (Czechoslovakia).
- Italy were 13th at the 2014 World Championship, the first time they had finished outside the top five at the event since 1986 (11th).
- This is Italy's 150th World Championship match - W89-L60. Only Russia (174, including as Soviet Union), Brazil (158) and Bulgaria (152) have already reached this landmark.
- Italy lost both of their last two World Championship matches in Rome by a 3-1 scoreline, in 2010 against Brazil (semifinal) and Serbia (final 3-4).
Japan
- Japan are making their 15th appearance at a World Championship, a record for an AVC nation.
- This is Japan's first appearance at the World Championship since 2010, when it was hosted by Italy. They finished 13th, recording only one victory in five matches (versus Egypt).
- Japan's best performance at the World Championship was third in 1970 and 1974.
- Japan's overall record at the World Championship is W61-L60.
- Since beating Italy at the 1994 edition of the tournament, Japan have won only one of their 15 World Championship matches against CEV opposition, 3-2 versus Bulgaria in 2002.