# 2003 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup

The 2003 FIVB Men's World Cup was held from 16 to 29 November 2003 in Japan. Twelve men's national teams played in cities all over Japan for the right to a fast lane ticket into the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Teams were made up as follows: hosts Japan, continental champions and vice-champions from Europe, Asia, NORCECA and South America, continental champion from Africa plus two wild-card teams nominated jointly by FIVB and the Japan Volleyball Association. Teams played a single-round robin format (66 games overall), in two parallel groups (site A and site B). The men played in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagano, Hamamatsu, and Okayama.

## Qualification

| Means of qualification | Date | Host | Vacancies | Qualified |
| Host Country | — | ― | 1 | Japan |
| 2003 Men's European Volleyball Championship | 5–14 September 2003 | Germany | 2 | Italy |
| 2003 Men's European Volleyball Championship | 5–14 September 2003 | Germany | 2 | France |
| 2003 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship | 25–30 September 2003 | Culiacán | 2 | United States |
| 2003 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship | 25–30 September 2003 | Culiacán | 2 | Canada |
| 2003 Men's South American Volleyball Championship | 2–6 September 2003 | Rio de Janeiro | 2 | Brazil |
| 2003 Men's South American Volleyball Championship | 2–6 September 2003 | Rio de Janeiro | 2 | Venezuela |
| 2003 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship | 5–12 September 2003 | Tianjin | 2 | South Korea |
| 2003 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship | 5–12 September 2003 | Tianjin | 2 | China |
| 2003 Men's African Volleyball Championship | 1–6 August 2003 | Cairo | 1 | Tunisia |
| Wild Cards | ― | ― | 2 | Serbia and Montenegro |
| Wild Cards | ― | ― | 2 | Egypt |
| Total | Total | Total | 12 | |

## Results

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Brazil | 11 | 11 | 0 | 22 | 33 | 4 | 8.250 | 916 | 720 | 1.272 |
| 2 | Italy | 11 | 9 | 2 | 20 | 29 | 8 | 3.625 | 910 | 762 | 1.194 |
| 3 | Serbia and Montenegro | 11 | 9 | 2 | 20 | 29 | 10 | 2.900 | 951 | 842 | 1.129 |
| 4 | United States | 11 | 8 | 3 | 19 | 24 | 13 | 1.846 | 883 | 794 | 1.112 |
| 5 | France | 11 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 24 | 16 | 1.500 | 950 | 868 | 1.094 |
| 6 | South Korea | 11 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 1.000 | 909 | 915 | 0.993 |
| 7 | Canada | 11 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 23 | 0.783 | 883 | 954 | 0.926 |
| 8 | Venezuela | 11 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 23 | 0.609 | 832 | 893 | 0.932 |
| 9 | Japan | 11 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 0.519 | 879 | 948 | 0.927 |
| 10 | China | 11 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 28 | 0.464 | 898 | 1012 | 0.887 |
| 11 | Tunisia | 11 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 30 | 0.300 | 803 | 932 | 0.862 |
| 12 | Egypt | 11 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 32 | 0.219 | 787 | 961 | 0.819 |

### First round
#### Site A

Venue: Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 16 Nov | China | 0–3 | Serbia and Montenegro | 16–25 | 16–25 | 24–26 | | | 56–76 |
| 16 Nov | Canada | 0–3 | United States | 17–25 | 17–25 | 17–25 | | | 51–75 |
| 16 Nov | Japan | 3–0 | Egypt | 25–20 | 25–17 | 25–23 | | | 75–60 |
| 17 Nov | Egypt | 0–3 | Canada | 22–25 | 16–25 | 20–25 | | | 58–75 |
| 17 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–0 | United States | 26–24 | 25–21 | 25–22 | | | 76–67 |
| 17 Nov | Japan | 3–1 | China | 23–25 | 25–21 | 25–18 | 25–20 | | 98–84 |
| 18 Nov | United States | 3–1 | China | 23–25 | 25–20 | 25–20 | 25–19 | | 98–84 |
| 18 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–1 | Egypt | 28–30 | 25–18 | 25–21 | 25–12 | | 103–81 |
| 18 Nov | Japan | 3–2 | Canada | 25–21 | 25–16 | 25–27 | 20–25 | 15–13 | 110-102 |

#### Site B

Venue: White Ring, Nagano
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 16 Nov | Italy | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–16 | 25–13 | 25–23 | | | 75–52 |
| 16 Nov | France | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–23 | 25–21 | 25–21 | | | 75–65 |
| 16 Nov | South Korea | 0–3 | Brazil | 21–25 | 19–25 | 17–25 | | | 57–75 |
| 17 Nov | Tunisia | 0–3 | South Korea | 19–25 | 20–25 | 26–28 | | | 65–78 |
| 17 Nov | Venezuela | 0–3 | Italy | 21–25 | 15–25 | 15–25 | | | 51–75 |
| 17 Nov | Brazil | 3–1 | France | 24–26 | 25–21 | 25–20 | 25–22 | | 99–89 |
| 18 Nov | Brazil | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–19 | 25–16 | 25–20 | | | 75–55 |
| 18 Nov | France | 3–2 | Tunisia | 23–25 | 23–25 | 25–18 | 25–21 | 18–16 | 114–105 |
| 18 Nov | Italy | 3–1 | South Korea | 25–18 | 21–25 | 25–18 | 25–21 | | 96–82 |

### Second round
#### Site A

Venue: Hiroshima Green Arena, Hiroshima
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 20 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–1 | Canada | 25–14 | 23–25 | 25–20 | 26–24 | | 99–83 |
| 20 Nov | Egypt | 0–3 | China | 22–25 | 20–25 | 29–31 | | | 71–81 |
| 20 Nov | United States | 3–1 | Japan | 19–25 | 25–14 | 25–23 | 25–19 | | 94–81 |
| 21 Nov | United States | 3–1 | Egypt | 25–22 | 25–19 | 22–25 | 25–14 | | 97–80 |
| 21 Nov | Canada | 3-2 | China | 25–23 | 24–26 | 34–36 | 25–22 | 15–13 | 123–120 |
| 21 Nov | Japan | 1–3 | Serbia and Montenegro | 25–21 | 18–25 | 22–25 | 20–25 | | 85–96 |

#### Site B

Venue: Hamamatsu Arena, Hamamatsu
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 20 Nov | South Korea | 3–1 | France | 20–25 | 25–23 | 25–23 | 25–21 | 95–92 |
| 20 Nov | Venezuela | 3-0 | Tunisia | 25–23 | 25–21 | 25–22 | | 75–66 |
| 20 Nov | Brazil | 3–1 | Italy | 25–18 | 26–24 | 20–25 | 25–22 | 96–89 |
| 21 Nov | Italy | 3–0 | France | 25–22 | 26–24 | 25–20 | | 76–66 |
| 21 Nov | South Korea | 3–1 | Venezuela | 25–21 | 25–22 | 23–25 | 26–24 | 99–92 |
| 21 Nov | Brazil | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–17 | 25–16 | 25–11 | | 75–44 |

### Third round
#### Site A

Venue: Marine Messe, Fukuoka
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 23 Nov | United States | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–13 | 25–17 | 25–22 | | | 75–52 |
| 23 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–0 | South Korea | 27–25 | 25–20 | 26–24 | | | 78–69 |
| 23 Nov | Japan | 0–3 | Venezuela | 20–25 | 18–25 | 23–25 | | | 61–75 |
| 24 Nov | United States | 3–0 | South Korea | 25–20 | 25–20 | 25–17 | | | 75–57 |
| 24 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–23 | 25–22 | 25–18 | | | 75–63 |
| 24 Nov | Japan | 3-2 | Tunisia | 25–23 | 25–22 | 22–25 | 21–25 | 15–10 | 108-105 |
| 25 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–16 | 25–14 | 25–21 | | | 75–51 |
| 25 Nov | United States | 3–0 | Venezuela | 28–26 | 25–16 | 25–13 | | | 78–65 |
| 25 Nov | Japan | 0–3 | South Korea | 22–25 | 13–25 | 23–25 | | | 58–75 |

#### Site B

Venue: Okayama General and Cultural Gymnasium, Okayama
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 23 Nov | Italy | 3–0 | Canada | 25–22 | 25–19 | 25–20 | | 75–61 |
| 23 Nov | Brazil | 3–1 | China | 25–21 | 25–20 | 23–25 | 25–18 | 98–84 |
| 23 Nov | France | 3–0 | Egypt | 25–15 | 25–23 | 25–15 | | 75–53 |
| 24 Nov | Brazil | 3–0 | Canada | 25–13 | 25–17 | 25–14 | | 75–44 |
| 24 Nov | Italy | 3–0 | Egypt | 25–16 | 25–16 | 25–17 | | 75–49 |
| 24 Nov | France | 3–1 | China | 25–16 | 25–14 | 24–26 | 25–19 | 99–75 |
| 25 Nov | Italy | 3–0 | China | 25–15 | 25–15 | 25–20 | | 75–50 |
| 25 Nov | Brazil | 3–0 | Egypt | 25–20 | 25–20 | 25–13 | | 75–53 |
| 25 Nov | France | 3–0 | Canada | 25–19 | 25–20 | 25–16 | | 75–55 |

### Fourth round
#### Site A

Venue: Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 28 Nov | Italy | 3-0 | United States | 25-12 | 29–27 | 25–22 | | 79-61 |
| 28 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 1–3 | Brazil | 25–23 | 21–25 | 21–25 | 21–25 | 98–98 |
| 28 Nov | Japan | 0–3 | France | 23–25 | 18–25 | 21–25 | | 62–75 |
| 29 Nov | Brazil | 3-0 | United States | 25–20 | 25–21 | 25–23 | | 75-64 |
| 29 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 1–3 | France | 18–25 | 22–25 | 25–21 | 19–25 | 84–96 |
| 29 Nov | Japan | 1–3 | Italy | 21–25 | 25–27 | 27–25 | 20–25 | 93–102 |
| 30 Nov | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–1 | Italy | 25–18 | 21–25 | 30–28 | 25–22 | 101–93 |
| 30 Nov | United States | 3–1 | France | 25–19 | 20–25 | 26–24 | 28–26 | 99–94 |
| 30 Nov | Japan | 0–3 | Brazil | 17–25 | 20–25 | 16–25 | | 53–75 |

#### Site B

Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 28 Nov | Venezuela | 3–1 | China | 23–25 | 25–22 | 28–26 | 25–20 | | 101–93 |
| 28 Nov | Tunisia | 0–3 | Canada | 23–25 | 20–25 | 20–25 | | | 63–75 |
| 28 Nov | Egypt | 3–2 | South Korea | 25–20 | 21–25 | 18–25 | 25–23 | 15–11 | 104–104 |
| 29 Nov | Venezuela | 1–3 | Canada | 21–25 | 25–23 | 20–25 | 21–25 | | 87–98 |
| 29 Nov | Tunisia | 3–1 | Egypt | 25–20 | 25–19 | 23–25 | 25–16 | | 98–80 |
| 29 Nov | South Korea | 3–0 | China | 25–19 | 25–21 | 26–24 | | | 76–64 |
| 30 Nov | Venezuela | 3–1 | Egypt | 31–29 | 25–23 | 22–25 | 25–21 | | 103–98 |
| 30 Nov | Tunisia | 1–3 | China | 17–25 | 26–24 | 25–27 | 29–31 | | 97–107 |
| 30 Nov | Canada | 3–2 | South Korea | 28–30 | 26–24 | 20–25 | 27–25 | 15–13 | 116–117 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Brazil |
| | Italy |
| | Serbia and Montenegro |
| 4 | United States |
| 5 | France |
| 6 | South Korea |
| 7 | Canada |
| 8 | Venezuela |
| 9 | Japan |
| 10 | China |
| 11 | Tunisia |
| 12 | Egypt |
* Qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics
* 2003 Men's World Cup champions
* Brazil 1st title
* Team roster
* Giovane, André Heller, Maurício, Giba, André, Sérgio, Anderson, Nalbert (c), Gustavo, Rodrigão, Ricardo, Dante
* Head coach
* Bernardinho

## Awards

* Most valuable player
    Takahiro Yamamoto
* Best scorer
    Takahiro Yamamoto
* Best spiker
    Giovane Gávio
* Best blocker
    Andrija Gerić
* Best server
    Andrea Sartoretti
* Best setter
    Nikola Grbić
* Best libero
    Sérgio Santos
* Most spectacular player
    Daisuke Usami