Volleyball and beach volleyball qualification systems for LA28 Olympic Games confirmed

The Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Qualification Systems for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games have been officially unveiled, following approval from both the IOC Executive Board and the FIVB Board of Administration.

Volleyball and beach volleyball will once again feature prominently on the Olympic stage from 14 to 30 July 2028. Beach volleyball will take place at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, offering a spectacular coastal backdrop for one of the Games’ most popular events. Volleyball will be played at the Honda Center, a premier sports and entertainment venue set to deliver an unforgettable Olympic atmosphere.

Volleyball Qualification System

A total of 24 teams – 12 men’s and 12 women’s – will qualify for the LA28 Olympic volleyball competition. As the host nation, the USA receives one guaranteed quota place per gender.

The qualification system includes three key pathways:

Continental Championships (5 quota places per gender)

The journey to LA28 begins with the 2026 Volleyball Continental Championships, staged across the five Continental Confederations in 2026. Each championship will award one quota place per gender to its top-ranked team, accounting for five men’s and five women’s Olympic berths.

Volleyball World Championships (3 quota places per gender)

Further opportunities to earn quota places will come at the FIVB Volleyball World Championships 2027, with the women’s edition set to be jointly staged by the USA and Canada, while the men’s event will be held in Poland. The top three teams per gender, not yet qualified, in the final standings will earn quota places for LA28.

FIVB Volleyball World Ranking (3 quota places per gender)

The remaining quota places will be allocated through the FIVB Volleyball World Ranking at the close of the VNL 2028 preliminary phase. Three top ranked teams per gender, not yet qualified, will earn their place via this pathway.

Beach Volleyball Qualification System

A total of 48 teams – 24 men’s and 24 women’s – will qualify for the LA28 Olympic beach volleyball competition. Each NOC may enter a maximum of two teams per gender. As the host nation, the USA receives one guaranteed quota place per gender and can still pursue a second through standard qualification pathways.

The qualification system includes four key pathways:

Continental qualification (5 quota places per gender)

The first pathway will come through the 2026 Beach Volleyball Continental Championships or Continental Tour Finals, staged in 2026. Across the five Continental Confederations, the winning team of each gender in each region will earn a quota place for their NOC, delivering a total of 10 places – five in the men’s competition and five in the women’s.

World Championships (1 quota place per gender)

The 2027 FIVB Beach Volleyball Senior World Championships, to be held in the Netherlands in 2027, will award one quota place per gender to the championship-winning teams, respecting the maximum of two quote places per NOC.

Olympic Ranking (14 quota places per gender)

The largest share of quota places will be allocated through the Olympic Ranking List, which will close in 2028 with the date to be confirmed next year. The top 14 teams per gender on the Ranking List will each secure one quota place for their NOC.

Olympic Qualifier Series (3 quota places per gender)

The final pathway will be the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS). The OQS will offer three quota places per gender, with more details set to be announced in 2026.