# 1998 FIVB Volleyball World League

The 1998 FIVB Volleyball World League was the ninth edition of the annual men's international volleyball tournament, played by 12 countries from 15 May to 19 July 1998. The Final Round was held in Milan, Italy.

## Pools composition

| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C |
| Bulgaria  Cuba  South Korea  Spain | Argentina  Greece  Italy  Netherlands | Brazil  Poland  Russia  Yugoslavia |

## Intercontinental round

* Qualified for the Playoff round
* Qualified as hosts for the final round
* Qualified as hosts for the Playoff round

### Pool A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Bulgaria | 12 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 30 | 15 | 2.000 | 581 | 501 | 1.160 | Pool East |
| 2 | Cuba | 12 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 29 | 15 | 1.933 | 603 | 463 | 1.302 | Pool East |
| 3 | Spain | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 29 | 0.621 | 542 | 634 | 0.855 | Pool West |
| 4 | South Korea | 12 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 30 | 0.400 | 439 | 567 | 0.774 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 15 May | Cuba | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–7 | 15–4 | 15–4 | | | 45–15 |
| 15 May | Spain | 2–3 | Bulgaria | 6–15 | 15–8 | 15–8 | 9–15 | 15–17 | 60–63 |
| 16 May | Cuba | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–4 | 15–11 | 15–10 | | | 45–25 |
| 17 May | Spain | 1–3 | Bulgaria | 10–15 | 10–15 | 15–11 | 11–15 | | 46–56 |
| 22 May | Cuba | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–8 | 15–5 | 15–7 | | | 45–20 |
| 23 May | South Korea | 3–0 | Spain | 15–6 | 16–14 | 15–9 | | | 46–29 |
| 23 May | Cuba | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–8 | 15–10 | 15–5 | | | 45–23 |
| 24 May | South Korea | 3–0 | Spain | 15–5 | 15–8 | 15–6 | | | 45–19 |
| 29 May | Bulgaria | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–8 | 15–9 | 15–4 | | | 45–21 |
| 29 May | Spain | 3–0 | Cuba | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–12 | | | 45–35 |
| 30 May | Bulgaria | 3–1 | South Korea | 13–15 | 15–6 | 15–11 | 15–8 | | 58–40 |
| 31 May | Spain | 3–2 | Cuba | 15–4 | 8–15 | 17–16 | 7–15 | 15–13 | 62–63 |
| 5 Jun | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Spain | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–7 | | | 45–30 |
| 6 Jun | South Korea | 0–3 | Cuba | 8–15 | 3–15 | 13–15 | | | 24–45 |
| 6 Jun | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Spain | 15–2 | 15–6 | 15–7 | | | 45–15 |
| 7 Jun | South Korea | 0–3 | Cuba | 7–15 | 7–15 | 9–15 | | | 23–45 |
| 12 Jun | Cuba | 3–2 | Spain | 13–15 | 12–15 | 15–13 | 15–10 | 15–10 | 70–63 |
| 13 Jun | South Korea | 1–3 | Bulgaria | 15–5 | 11–15 | 6–15 | 14–16 | | 46–51 |
| 13 Jun | Cuba | 3–1 | Spain | 16–14 | 9–15 | 15–6 | 15–9 | | 55–44 |
| 14 Jun | South Korea | 1–3 | Bulgaria | 9–15 | 9–15 | 15–11 | 11–15 | | 44–56 |
| 19 Jun | Spain | 3–2 | South Korea | 13–15 | 15–12 | 15–10 | 11–15 | 15–13 | 69–65 |
| 20 Jun | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Cuba | 15–13 | 15–9 | 13–15 | 15–8 | | 58–45 |
| 21 Jun | Spain | 3–1 | South Korea | 15–13 | 15–9 | 13–15 | 15–8 | | 58–45 |
| 21 Jun | Bulgaria | 3–2 | Cuba | 15–12 | 15–8 | 7–15 | 8–15 | 16–14 | 61–64 |

### Pool B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Netherlands | 12 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 30 | 11 | 2.727 | 553 | 433 | 1.277 | Pool West |
| 2 | Italy (H) | 12 | 7 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 17 | 1.412 | 544 | 471 | 1.155 | Final round |
| 3 | Argentina | 12 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 0.880 | 583 | 585 | 0.997 | |
| 4 | Greece | 12 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 33 | 0.303 | 419 | 610 | 0.687 | |
* ↑ Qualified as hosts
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 15 May | Argentina | 0–3 | Netherlands | 11–15 | 10–15 | 4–15 | | | 25–45 |
| 16 May | Italy | 3–0 | Greece | 15–7 | 15–9 | 15–10 | | | 45–26 |
| 17 May | Argentina | 0–3 | Netherlands | 13–15 | 12–15 | 13–15 | | | 38–45 |
| 17 May | Italy | 3–0 | Greece | 15–1 | 15–8 | 15–5 | | | 45–14 |
| 22 May | Italy | 2–3 | Argentina | 7–15 | 12–15 | 16–14 | 16–14 | 13–15 | 64–73 |
| 23 May | Greece | 1–3 | Netherlands | 11–15 | 3–15 | 15–13 | 6–15 | | 35–58 |
| 24 May | Italy | 3–1 | Argentina | 13–15 | 16–14 | 16–14 | 15–8 | | 60–51 |
| 24 May | Greece | 1–3 | Netherlands | 12–15 | 7–15 | 15–13 | 8–15 | | 42–58 |
| 29 May | Argentina | 2–3 | Greece | 13–15 | 10–15 | 15–9 | 15–8 | 13–15 | 66–62 |
| 30 May | Italy | 0–3 | Netherlands | 11–15 | 9–15 | 9–15 | | | 29–45 |
| 31 May | Argentina | 1–3 | Greece | 12–15 | 16–14 | 13–15 | 12–15 | | 53–59 |
| 31 May | Italy | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–7 | 15–10 | 15–13 | | | 45–30 |
| 5 Jun | Argentina | 3–1 | Italy | 15–11 | 8–15 | 15–6 | 15–13 | | 53–45 |
| 6 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Greece | 15–7 | 15–5 | 15–9 | | | 45–21 |
| 7 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Greece | 15–5 | 15–8 | 15–9 | | | 45–22 |
| 7 Jun | Argentina | 3–0 | Italy | 15–13 | 15–13 | 15–8 | | | 45–34 |
| 13 Jun | Netherlands | 3–1 | Argentina | 15–9 | 9–15 | 15–12 | 15–4 | | 54–40 |
| 13 Jun | Greece | 1–3 | Italy | 9–15 | 15–4 | 5–15 | 13–15 | | 42–49 |
| 14 Jun | Netherlands | 3–2 | Argentina | 15–7 | 3–15 | 5–15 | 15–2 | 15–12 | 53–51 |
| 14 Jun | Greece | 0–3 | Italy | 6–15 | 11–15 | 13–15 | | | 30–45 |
| 20 Jun | Netherlands | 0–3 | Italy | 8–15 | 9–15 | 11–15 | | | 28–45 |
| 20 Jun | Greece | 1–3 | Argentina | 15–11 | 12–15 | 11–15 | 15–17 | | 53–58 |
| 21 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Italy | 15–13 | 15–12 | 17–15 | | | 47–40 |
| 21 Jun | Greece | 0–3 | Argentina | 5–15 | 4–15 | 6–15 | | | 15–45 |

### Pool C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 12 | 9 | 3 | 21 | 29 | 11 | 2.636 | 536 | 420 | 1.276 | Pool West |
| 2 | Russia | 12 | 9 | 3 | 21 | 30 | 17 | 1.765 | 633 | 519 | 1.220 | Pool West |
| 3 | Yugoslavia | 12 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 28 | 0.643 | 519 | 600 | 0.865 | Pool East |
| 4 | Poland | 12 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 33 | 0.364 | 469 | 618 | 0.759 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 15 May | Russia | 2–3 | Poland | 15–11 | 15–7 | 16–17 | 12–15 | 11–15 | 69–65 |
| 15 May | Brazil | 3–0 | Yugoslavia | 15–8 | 15–9 | 15–7 | | | 45–24 |
| 16 May | Russia | 3–0 | Poland | 15–5 | 15–11 | 15–12 | | | 45–28 |
| 17 May | Brazil | 3–0 | Yugoslavia | 15–11 | 16–14 | 15–5 | | | 46–30 |
| 22 May | Yugoslavia | 1–3 | Russia | 6–15 | 12–15 | 15–13 | 8–15 | | 41–58 |
| 22 May | Brazil | 3–0 | Poland | 15–6 | 15–12 | 15–6 | | | 45–24 |
| 23 May | Yugoslavia | 0–3 | Russia | 11–15 | 13–15 | 4–15 | | | 28–45 |
| 24 May | Brazil | 3–0 | Poland | 15–8 | 15–8 | 16–14 | | | 46–30 |
| 29 May | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Poland | 15–4 | 15–13 | 15–13 | | | 45–30 |
| 29 May | Brazil | 3–0 | Russia | 15–12 | 15–12 | 15–7 | | | 45–31 |
| 30 May | Yugoslavia | 2–3 | Poland | 9–15 | 15–12 | 8–15 | 15–8 | 16–14 | 63–64 |
| 31 May | Brazil | 3–1 | Russia | 15–9 | 15–6 | 11–15 | 15–8 | | 56–38 |
| 5 Jun | Russia | 3–2 | Yugoslavia | 15–6 | 12–15 | 15–2 | 13–15 | 15–12 | 70–50 |
| 5 Jun | Poland | 1–3 | Brazil | 10–15 | 8–15 | 15–12 | 13–15 | | 46–57 |
| 6 Jun | Russia | 3–2 | Yugoslavia | 16–14 | 15–12 | 13–15 | 8–15 | 15–11 | 67–67 |
| 6 Jun | Poland | 0–3 | Brazil | 6–15 | 8–15 | 5–15 | | | 19–45 |
| 12 Jun | Poland | 0–3 | Russia | 11–15 | 7–15 | 3–15 | | | 21–45 |
| 12 Jun | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–7 | 15–10 | 15–8 | | | 45–25 |
| 13 Jun | Poland | 1–3 | Russia | 15–7 | 6–15 | 5–15 | 11–15 | | 37–52 |
| 14 Jun | Yugoslavia | 0–3 | Brazil | 6–15 | 11–15 | 3–15 | | | 20–45 |
| 19 Jun | Russia | 3–1 | Brazil | 15–13 | 15–6 | 11–15 | 15–11 | | 56–45 |
| 19 Jun | Poland | 3–2 | Yugoslavia | 11–15 | 11–15 | 15–6 | 15–12 | 15–9 | 67–57 |
| 20 Jun | Russia | 3–1 | Brazil | 12–15 | 15–3 | 15–8 | 15–10 | | 57–36 |
| 20 Jun | Poland | 1–3 | Yugoslavia | 5–15 | 15–6 | 5–15 | 11–15 | | 36–51 |

## Playoff round
### Pool West

* Host: Alicante, Spain
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Russia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 115 | 112 | 1.027 | Final round |
| 2 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 1.400 | 147 | 145 | 1.014 | Final round |
| 3 | Brazil | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0.833 | 139 | 133 | 1.045 | |
| 4 | Spain | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0.429 | 117 | 128 | 0.914 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 13 Jul | Netherlands | 3–2 | Brazil | 7–15 | 15–13 | 12–15 | 15–7 | 15–13 | 64–63 |
| 13 Jul | Spain | 0–3 | Russia | 13–15 | 11–15 | 12–15 | | | 36–45 |
| 14 Jul | Netherlands | 3–0 | Russia | 15–10 | 15–7 | 15–8 | | | 45–25 |
| 14 Jul | Spain | 0–3 | Brazil | 10–15 | 7–15 | 7–15 | | | 24–45 |
| 15 Jul | Brazil | 0–3 | Russia | 10–15 | 9–15 | 12–15 | | | 31–45 |
| 15 Jul | Spain | 3–1 | Netherlands | 12–15 | 15–5 | 15–12 | 15–6 | | 57–38 |

### Pool East

* Host: Belgrade, Yugoslavia
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Cuba | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3.000 | 109 | 67 | 1.627 | Final round |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 106 | 108 | 0.981 | |
| 3 | Bulgaria | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | 58 | 98 | 0.592 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 13 Jul | Yugoslavia | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 6–15 | 17–15 | 15–7 | 15–7 | | 53–44 |
| 14 Jul | Cuba | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–3 | 15–2 | 15–9 | | | 45–14 |
| 15 Jul | Yugoslavia | 2–3 | Cuba | 6–15 | 15–12 | 5–15 | 15–7 | 12–15 | 53–64 |

## Final round

* Venue: Forum di Assago, Assago, Italy
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Cuba | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 9.000 | 147 | 103 | 1.427 |
| 2 | Russia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 136 | 134 | 1.015 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0.571 | 124 | 137 | 0.905 |
| 4 | Italy | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0.333 | 125 | 158 | 0.791 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 17 Jul | Russia | 0–3 | Cuba | 15–17 | 13–15 | 4–15 | | | 32–47 |
| 17 Jul | Italy | 1–3 | Netherlands | 15–9 | 13–15 | 4–15 | 5–15 | | 37–54 |
| 18 Jul | Russia | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–8 | 15–5 | 15–11 | | | 45–24 |
| 18 Jul | Italy | 0–3 | Cuba | 7–15 | 11–15 | 7–15 | | | 25–45 |
| 19 Jul | Netherlands | 1–3 | Cuba | 14–16 | 14–16 | 15–8 | 3–15 | | 46–55 |
| 19 Jul | Italy | 2–3 | Russia | 7–15 | 15–5 | 13–15 | 15–9 | 13–15 | 63–59 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Cuba |
| | Russia |
| | Netherlands |
| 4 | Italy |
| 5 | Brazil |
| 6 | Yugoslavia |
| 7 | Bulgaria |
| 8 | Spain |
| 9 | Argentina |
| 10 | Poland |
| 11 | South Korea |
| 12 | Greece |
* 1998 World League champions
* Cuba 1st title

## Awards

* Best scorer: Osvaldo Hernández
* Best spiker: Osvaldo Hernández
* Best blocker: Andrea Giani
* Best server: Roman Yakovlyev