# 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship

The 1990 FIVB Men's World Championship was the twelfth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 18 to 28 October 1990 in Brazil.

## Qualification

| Means of qualification | Date | Host | Vacancies | Qualified |
| Host Country | — | — | 1 | Brazil |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 25 Sep – 5 Oct 1986 | France | 7 | United States |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 25 Sep – 5 Oct 1986 | France | 7 | Soviet Union |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 25 Sep – 5 Oct 1986 | France | 7 | Bulgaria |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 25 Sep – 5 Oct 1986 | France | 7 | Cuba |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 25 Sep – 5 Oct 1986 | France | 7 | France |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 25 Sep – 5 Oct 1986 | France | 7 | Argentina |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 25 Sep – 5 Oct 1986 | France | 7 | Czechoslovakia |
| 1989 Men's European Volleyball Championship | 23 Sep – 1 October 1989 | Sweden | 1 | Italy |
| 1989 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship | 8–15 July 1989 | San Juan | 1 | Canada |
| 1989 Men's South American Volleyball Championship | 23–30 September 1989 | Curitiba | 1 | Venezuela |
| 1989 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship | 15–24 September 1989 | Seoul | 1 | South Korea |
| 1989 Men's African Volleyball Championship | September 1989 | Abidjan | 1 | Cameroon |
| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World B Championship | 12–22 April 1990 | Japan | 3 | Sweden |
| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World B Championship | 12–22 April 1990 | Japan | 3 | Netherlands |
| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World B Championship | 12–22 April 1990 | Japan | 3 | Japan |
| Total | Total | Total | 16 | |

## Venues

| BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | Pool A and Final round | Pool B, D and Final round | Pool C and Final round |
| BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Brasilia, Brazil | Curitiba, Brazil |
| BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | Maracanãzinho | Nilson Nelson Gymnasium | Ginásio Tarumã |
| BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | Capacity: 11,800 | Capacity: 24,286 | Capacity: 4,555 |
| BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | BrasíliaRio de JaneiroCuritibaclass=notpageimage| 1990 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (Brazil) | | | No Image |

## Results
### First round
#### Pool A

Location: Rio de Janeiro
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4.500 | 160 | 114 | 1.404 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Sweden | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 1.333 | 201 | 172 | 1.169 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 3 | Czechoslovakia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0.625 | 129 | 170 | 0.759 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 4 | South Korea | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0.333 | 143 | 177 | 0.808 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 18 Oct | 16:00 | Brazil | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–7 | 15–7 | 15–9 | | | 45–23 |
| 18 Oct | 18:30 | Sweden | 3–1 | South Korea | 15–8 | 15–11 | 16–17 | 15–10 | | 61–46 |
| 19 Oct | 16:00 | Brazil | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–8 | 15–4 | 15–7 | | | 45–19 |
| 19 Oct | 18:30 | Sweden | 3–2 | Czechoslovakia | 12–15 | 15–9 | 11–15 | 15–4 | 15–13 | 68–56 |
| 20 Oct | 16:00 | Brazil | 3–2 | Sweden | 15–17 | 16–14 | 8–15 | 16–14 | 15–12 | 70–72 |
| 20 Oct | 18:30 | Czechoslovakia | 3–2 | South Korea | 15–11 | 5–15 | 15–11 | 14–16 | 15–11 | 64–64 |

#### Pool B

Location: Brasília
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | MAX | 135 | 68 | 1.985 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 107 | 90 | 1.189 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 3 | Canada | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0.429 | 113 | 134 | 0.843 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 4 | United States | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0.111 | 87 | 150 | 0.580 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 18 Oct | 18:30 | Argentina | 3–0 | Canada | 15–9 | 15–11 | 15–13 | | 45–33 |
| 18 Oct | 21:00 | Netherlands | 3–0 | United States | 15–7 | 15–12 | 15–6 | | 45–25 |
| 19 Oct | 18:30 | Canada | 3–1 | United States | 15–13 | 15–11 | 15–17 | 15–3 | 60–44 |
| 19 Oct | 21:00 | Argentina | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–7 | 15–3 | 15–7 | | 45–17 |
| 20 Oct | 12:30 | Netherlands | 3–0 | Canada | 15–3 | 15–9 | 15–8 | | 45–20 |
| 20 Oct | 21:00 | Argentina | 3–0 | United States | 15–3 | 15–8 | 15–7 | | 45–18 |

#### Pool C

Location: Curitiba
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | MAX | 135 | 53 | 2.547 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | France | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 114 | 102 | 1.118 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 3 | Japan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 86 | 108 | 0.796 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 4 | Venezuela | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 65 | 137 | 0.474 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total |
| 18 Oct | 18:30 | Japan | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–6 | 15–4 | 15–8 | 45–18 |
| 18 Oct | 21:00 | Soviet Union | 3–0 | France | 15–6 | 15–10 | 15–6 | 45–22 |
| 19 Oct | 18:30 | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Japan | 15–10 | 15–7 | 15–1 | 45–18 |
| 19 Oct | 21:00 | France | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–11 | 17–15 | 15–8 | 47–34 |
| 20 Oct | 18:30 | France | 3–0 | Japan | 15–7 | 15–11 | 15–5 | 45–23 |
| 20 Oct | 21:00 | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–4 | 15–2 | 15–7 | 45–13 |

#### Pool D

Location: Brasília
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Cuba | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4.500 | 154 | 119 | 1.294 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1.500 | 132 | 103 | 1.282 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 3 | Bulgaria | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1.000 | 147 | 137 | 1.073 | Play-offs for quarterfinals |
| 4 | Cameroon | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 61 | 135 | 0.452 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 18 Oct | 10:00 | Italy | 3–0 | Cameroon | 15–4 | 15–3 | 15–10 | | | 45–17 |
| 18 Oct | 12:30 | Cuba | 3–2 | Bulgaria | 11–15 | 8–15 | 15–10 | 15–11 | 15–10 | 64–61 |
| 19 Oct | 10:00 | Cuba | 3–0 | Cameroon | 15–8 | 15–9 | 15–11 | | | 45–28 |
| 19 Oct | 12:30 | Italy | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 15–9 | 15–5 | 12–15 | 15–12 | | 57–41 |
| 20 Oct | 10:00 | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Cameroon | 15–3 | 15–5 | 15–8 | | | 45–16 |
| 20 Oct | 18:30 | Cuba | 3–0 | Italy | 15–13 | 15–9 | 15–8 | | | 45–30 |

### Final round

| Play-off 23 October – Brasília | Play-off 23 October – Brasília | Play-off 23 October – Brasília | Quarterfinals 26 October – Rio de Janeiro | Quarterfinals 26 October – Rio de Janeiro | Quarterfinals 26 October – Rio de Janeiro | Semifinals 27 October – Rio de Janeiro | Semifinals 27 October – Rio de Janeiro | Semifinals 27 October – Rio de Janeiro | Final 28 October – Rio de Janeiro | Final 28 October – Rio de Janeiro | Final 28 October – Rio de Janeiro |
| | | | Brazil | Brazil | 3 | | | | | | |
| France | France | 3 | France | France | 0 | | | | | | |
| Canada | Canada | 1 | | | | Brazil | Brazil | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | Italy | Italy | 3 | | | |
| | | | Argentina | Argentina | 0 | | | | | | |
| Italy | Italy | 3 | Italy | Italy | 3 | | | | | | |
| Czechoslovakia | Czechoslovakia | 0 | | | | | | | Italy | Italy | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | Cuba | Cuba | 1 |
| | | | Soviet Union | Soviet Union | 3 | | | |
| Sweden | Sweden | 0 | Bulgaria | Bulgaria | 0 | | | |
| Bulgaria | Bulgaria | 3 | | | | Soviet Union | Soviet Union | 1 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | | | | Cuba | Cuba | 3 |
| | | | Cuba | Cuba | 3 | | | | Brazil | Brazil | 0 |
| Netherlands | Netherlands | 3 | Netherlands | Netherlands | 2 | | | | Soviet Union | Soviet Union | 3 |
| Japan | Japan | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5th–8th semifinals | 5th–8th semifinals | 5th place | 5th place |
| 27 October | 27 October |
| France | 0 |
| France | 0 | 28 October | 28 October |
| Argentina | 3 | 28 October | 28 October |
| Argentina | 3 | Argentina | 2 |
| 27 October | 27 October | | Argentina | 2 |
| 27 October | 27 October | Bulgaria | 3 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | Bulgaria | 3 |
| Netherlands | 2 | | |
| Netherlands | 2 | 7th place | 7th place |
| | | 28 October | 28 October |
| | | France | 1 |
| | | Netherlands | 3 |

#### Play-offs for quarterfinals

Location: Brasília
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 23 Oct | 10:00 | France | 3–1 | Canada | 15–3 | 12–15 | 17–15 | 15–9 | 59–42 |
| 23 Oct | 12:30 | Netherlands | 3–0 | Japan | 15–4 | 15–12 | 15–3 | | 45–19 |
| 23 Oct | 18:30 | Sweden | 0–3 | Bulgaria | 7–15 | 12–15 | 10–15 | | 29–45 |
| 23 Oct | 21:00 | Italy | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–6 | 16–14 | 15–5 | | 46–25 |

#### Group head matches

Location: Rio de Janeiro
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 23 Oct | | Cuba | 3–2 | Brazil | 13–15 | 16–17 | 15–8 | 15–8 | 15–10 | 74–58 |
| 23 Oct | | Argentina | 3–2 | Soviet Union | 15–4 | 7–15 | 15–11 | 13–15 | 15–11 | 65–56 |

#### 13th–16th places

Location: Curitiba
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 13 | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4.500 | 159 | 120 | 1.325 |
| 14 | South Korea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 124 | 87 | 1.425 |
| 15 | Cameroon | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0.667 | 109 | 124 | 0.879 |
| 16 | Venezuela | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0.111 | 88 | 149 | 0.591 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 23 Oct | South Korea | 3–0 | Cameroon | 15–10 | 15–2 | 15–7 | | 45–19 |
| 23 Oct | United States | 3–1 | Venezuela | 15–5 | 15–7 | 14–16 | 15–13 | 59–41 |
| 24 Oct | United States | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–12 | 15–9 | 15–13 | | 45–34 |
| 24 Oct | Cameroon | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–4 | 15–7 | 15–13 | | 45–24 |
| 26 Oct | United States | 3–1 | Cameroon | 15–9 | 15–10 | 10–15 | 15–11 | 55–45 |
| 26 Oct | South Korea | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–8 | 15–7 | 15–8 | | 45–23 |

#### 9th–12th places

| 9th–12th semifinals | 9th–12th semifinals | 9th place | 9th place |
| 24 October – Brasília | 24 October – Brasília |
| Czechoslovakia | 3 |
| Czechoslovakia | 3 | 26 October – Brasília | 26 October – Brasília |
| Canada | 2 | 26 October – Brasília | 26 October – Brasília |
| Canada | 2 | Czechoslovakia | 3 |
| 24 October – Brasília | 24 October – Brasília | | Czechoslovakia | 3 |
| 24 October – Brasília | 24 October – Brasília | Sweden | 0 |
| Sweden | 3 | Sweden | 0 |
| Japan | 0 | | |
| Japan | 0 | 11th place | 11th place |
| | | 26 October – Brasília | 26 October – Brasília |
| | | Canada | 2 |
| | | Japan | 3 |

##### 9th–12th semifinals

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 24 Oct | | Czechoslovakia | 3–2 | Canada | 15–4 | 15–11 | 5–15 | 5–15 | 15–10 | 55–55 |
| 24 Oct | | Sweden | 3–0 | Japan | 15–10 | 15–8 | 15–11 | | | 45–29 |

##### 11th place match

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 26 Oct | | Canada | 2–3 | Japan | | | | | | |

##### 9th place match

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 26 Oct | | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Sweden | 15–9 | 15–4 | 15–7 | | | 45–20 |

#### Finals
##### Quarterfinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 26 Oct | Brazil | 3–0 | France | 15–8 | 15–0 | 15–9 | | | 45–17 |
| 26 Oct | Argentina | 0–3 | Italy | 15–17 | 11–15 | 13–15 | | | 39–47 |
| 26 Oct | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–12 | 15–4 | 15–11 | | | 45–27 |
| 26 Oct | Cuba | 3–2 | Netherlands | 8–15 | 15–10 | 11–15 | 17–15 | 15–9 | 66–64 |

##### 5th–8th semifinals

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 27 Oct | 10:00 | Bulgaria | 3–2 | Netherlands | 10–15 | 15–11 | 1–15 | 15–10 | 17–15 | 58–66 |
| 27 Oct | 12:30 | France | 0–3 | Argentina | 13–15 | 14–16 | 11–15 | | | 38–46 |

##### Semifinals

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 27 Oct | 16:00 | Brazil | 2–3 | Italy | 15–6 | 9–15 | 8–15 | 15–8 | 13–15 | 60–59 |
| 27 Oct | 18:30 | Soviet Union | 1–3 | Cuba | 15–7 | 12–15 | 9–15 | 11–15 | | 47–52 |

##### 7th place match

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 28 Oct | | France | 1–3 | Netherlands | 1–15 | 15–8 | 8–15 | 7–15 | | 31–53 |

##### 5th place match

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 28 Oct | | Argentina | 2–3 | Bulgaria | 15–7 | 16–14 | 10–15 | 12–15 | 10–15 | 63–66 |

##### 3rd place match

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 28 Oct | | Brazil | 0–3 | Soviet Union | 8–15 | 8–15 | 4–15 | | | 20–45 |

##### Final

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 28 Oct | | Italy | 3–1 | Cuba | 12–15 | 15–11 | 15–6 | 16–14 | | 58–46 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Italy |
| | Cuba |
| | Soviet Union |
| 4 | Brazil |
| 5 | Bulgaria |
| 6 | Argentina |
| 7 | Netherlands |
| 8 | France |
| 9 | Czechoslovakia |
| 10 | Sweden |
| 11 | Japan |
| 12 | Canada |
| 13 | United States |
| 14 | South Korea |
| 15 | Cameroon |
| 16 | Venezuela |
* Qualified for the 1992 Summer Olympics
* 1990 Men's World champions
* Italy 1st title
* Team roster
* Andrea Anastasi, Lorenzo Bernardi, Marco Bracci, Luca Cantagalli, Ferdinando De Giorgi, Andrea Gardini, Andrea Giani, Andrea Lucchetta, Marco Martinelli, Roberto Masciarelli, Paolo Tofoli, Andrea Zorzi
* Head coach
* Julio Velasco