# 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship

The 1986 FIVB Men's World Championship was the eleventh edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 25 September to 5 October 1986 in France.

## Qualification

| Means of qualification | Date | Host | Vacancies | Qualified |
| Host Country | — | — | 1 | France |
| 1982 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 1–15 October 1982 | Argentina | 7 | Soviet Union |
| 1982 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 1–15 October 1982 | Argentina | 7 | Brazil |
| 1982 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 1–15 October 1982 | Argentina | 7 | Argentina |
| 1982 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 1–15 October 1982 | Argentina | 7 | Japan |
| 1982 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 1–15 October 1982 | Argentina | 7 | Bulgaria |
| 1982 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 1–15 October 1982 | Argentina | 7 | Poland |
| 1982 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship | 1–15 October 1982 | Argentina | 7 | China |
| 1985 Men's European Volleyball Championship | 29 Sep – 4 Oct 1985 | Netherlands | 1 | Czechoslovakia |
| 1985 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship | 27 Sep – 7 Oct 1985 | Santiago de los Caballeros | 1 | United States |
| 1985 Men's South American Volleyball Championship | 24 Jul – 1 Aug 1985 | Caracas | 1 | Venezuela |
| Asian Qualifier | 5–7 October 1985 | Sydney | 1 | Chinese Taipei |
| 1983 Men's African Volleyball Championship | 7–14 December 1983 | Port Said | 1 | Egypt |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World B Championship | 3–12 April 1986 | Piraeus | 3 | Cuba |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World B Championship | 3–12 April 1986 | Piraeus | 3 | Italy |
| 1986 FIVB Men's Volleyball World B Championship | 3–12 April 1986 | Piraeus | 3 | Greece |
| Total | Total | Total | 16 | |

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

Location: Montpellier
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | MAX | 136 | 54 | 2.519 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Italy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 118 | 89 | 1.326 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | China | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 83 | 113 | 0.735 | 1st–12th pools |
| 4 | Venezuela | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 54 | 135 | 0.400 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total |
| 24 Sep | 17:30 | France | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–2 | 15–4 | 15–3 | 45–9 |
| 24 Sep | 20:00 | Italy | 3–0 | China | 15–1 | 15–10 | 15–10 | 45–21 |
| 25 Sep | 17:30 | Italy | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–10 | 15–2 | 15–10 | 45–22 |
| 25 Sep | 20:00 | France | 3–0 | China | 15–6 | 15–6 | 15–5 | 45–17 |
| 26 Sep | 17:30 | China | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–4 | 15–12 | 15–7 | 45–23 |
| 26 Sep | 20:00 | France | 3–0 | Italy | 16–14 | 15–7 | 15–7 | 46–28 |

#### Pool B

Location: Tourcoing
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 9.000 | 144 | 68 | 2.118 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Cuba | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 1.750 | 146 | 111 | 1.315 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Poland | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0.667 | 97 | 129 | 0.752 | 1st–12th pools |
| 4 | Chinese Taipei | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 56 | 135 | 0.415 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 24 Sep | 17:30 | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Chinese Taipei | 15–2 | 15–4 | 15–6 | | 45–12 |
| 24 Sep | 20:00 | Cuba | 3–1 | Poland | 15–5 | 17–15 | 11–15 | 15–4 | 58–39 |
| 25 Sep | 17:30 | Cuba | 3–0 | Chinese Taipei | 15–7 | 15–2 | 15–9 | | 45–18 |
| 25 Sep | 20:00 | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Poland | 15–7 | 15–2 | 15–4 | | 45–13 |
| 26 Sep | 17:30 | Poland | 3–0 | Chinese Taipei | 15–11 | 15–4 | 15–11 | | 45–26 |
| 26 Sep | 20:00 | Soviet Union | 3–1 | Cuba | 15–7 | 15–12 | 9–15 | 15–9 | 54–43 |

#### Pool C

Location: Clermont-Ferrand
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 9.000 | 148 | 87 | 1.701 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2.333 | 131 | 116 | 1.129 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Czechoslovakia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 112 | 115 | 0.974 | 1st–12th pools |
| 4 | Egypt | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 62 | 135 | 0.459 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 24 Sep | 17:30 | Brazil | 3–0 | Egypt | 15–6 | 15–8 | 15–3 | | 45–17 |
| 24 Sep | 20:00 | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–12 | 17–15 | 15–11 | | 47–36 |
| 25 Sep | 17:30 | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Egypt | 15–5 | 15–10 | 15–7 | | 45–22 |
| 25 Sep | 20:00 | Brazil | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 16–14 | 11–15 | 15–6 | 15–4 | 57–39 |
| 26 Sep | 17:30 | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Egypt | 15–5 | 15–11 | 15–7 | | 45–23 |
| 26 Sep | 20:00 | Brazil | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–12 | 16–14 | 15–5 | | 46–31 |

#### Pool D

Location: Orléans
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 9.000 | 146 | 88 | 1.659 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Argentina | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 117 | 85 | 1.376 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Japan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0.667 | 114 | 118 | 0.966 | 1st–12th pools |
| 4 | Greece | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 49 | 135 | 0.363 | 13th–16th places |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 24 Sep | 17:30 | Argentina | 3–0 | Greece | 15–6 | 15–3 | 15–6 | | 45–15 |
| 24 Sep | 20:00 | United States | 3–1 | Japan | 9–15 | 15–8 | 17–15 | 15–6 | 56–44 |
| 25 Sep | 17:30 | Argentina | 3–0 | Japan | 15–8 | 15–13 | 15–4 | | 45–25 |
| 25 Sep | 20:00 | United States | 3–0 | Greece | 15–6 | 15–7 | 15–4 | | 45–17 |
| 26 Sep | 17:30 | Japan | 3–0 | Greece | 15–8 | 15–3 | 15–6 | | 45–17 |
| 26 Sep | 20:00 | United States | 3–0 | Argentina | 15–10 | 15–7 | 15–10 | | 45–27 |

### Second round

The results and the points of the matches between the same teams that were already played during the first round are taken into account for the second round.

#### 1st–12th pools
##### Pool E

Location: Toulouse
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 5.000 | 261 | 183 | 1.426 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 4 | 3.250 | 232 | 186 | 1.247 | Semifinals |
| 3 | France | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 1.833 | 233 | 186 | 1.253 | 5th–8th places |
| 4 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 0.667 | 188 | 192 | 0.979 | 5th–8th places |
| 5 | Italy | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 0.250 | 148 | 202 | 0.733 | 9th–12th places |
| 6 | China | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 0.067 | 126 | 239 | 0.527 | 9th–12th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 29 Sep | Brazil | 3–1 | China | 12–15 | 15–6 | 15–7 | 15–4 | 57–32 |
| 29 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Italy | 15–4 | 15–10 | 15–12 | | 45–26 |
| 29 Sep | France | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–10 | 15–13 | 15–6 | | 45–29 |
| 30 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | China | 15–9 | 15–10 | 17–15 | | 47–34 |
| 30 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Italy | 15–6 | 15–13 | 15–10 | | 45–29 |
| 30 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–1 | France | 15–9 | 11–15 | 15–12 | 15–9 | 56–45 |
| 1 Oct | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Italy | 15–8 | 15–8 | 15–4 | | 45–20 |
| 1 Oct | Bulgaria | 3–0 | China | 15–8 | 15–3 | 15–11 | | 45–22 |
| 1 Oct | Brazil | 3–1 | France | 15–13 | 6–15 | 20–18 | 15–6 | 56–52 |

##### Pool F

Location: Nantes
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 7.500 | 244 | 161 | 1.516 | Semifinals |
| 2 | United States | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 2.600 | 253 | 198 | 1.278 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Cuba | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 1.100 | 265 | 269 | 0.985 | 5th–8th places |
| 4 | Argentina | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 0.727 | 224 | 231 | 0.970 | 5th–8th places |
| 5 | Poland | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.500 | 182 | 228 | 0.798 | 9th–12th places |
| 6 | Japan | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 0.133 | 171 | 252 | 0.679 | 9th–12th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 29 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Japan | 16–14 | 15–5 | 15–10 | | | 46–29 |
| 29 Sep | United States | 3–0 | Poland | 15–12 | 15–13 | 15–11 | | | 45–36 |
| 29 Sep | Cuba | 3–2 | Argentina | 15–17 | 15–4 | 15–12 | 7–15 | 15–13 | 67–61 |
| 30 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | Japan | 15–7 | 15–10 | 15–2 | | | 45–19 |
| 30 Sep | United States | 3–1 | Cuba | 15–7 | 16–18 | 15–5 | 15–7 | | 61–37 |
| 30 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Argentina | 15–11 | 15–10 | 15–9 | | | 45–30 |
| 1 Oct | Argentina | 3–2 | Poland | 15–7 | 10–15 | 6–15 | 15–4 | 15–8 | 61–49 |
| 1 Oct | Cuba | 3–1 | Japan | 11–15 | 15–12 | 15–10 | 19–17 | | 60–54 |
| 1 Oct | Soviet Union | 3–1 | United States | 15–10 | 15–9 | 9–15 | 15–12 | | 54–46 |

#### 13th–16th places

Location: Évreux
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 13 | Greece | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4.500 | 159 | 121 | 1.314 |
| 14 | Egypt | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 1.000 | 182 | 174 | 1.046 |
| 15 | Chinese Taipei | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0.571 | 128 | 134 | 0.955 |
| 16 | Venezuela | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0.500 | 126 | 166 | 0.759 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 29 Sep | Greece | 3–0 | Chinese Taipei | 15–10 | 15–11 | 15–12 | | | 45–33 |
| 29 Sep | Venezuela | 3–2 | Egypt | 15–11 | 6–15 | 15–11 | 17–19 | 15–7 | 68–63 |
| 30 Sep | Chinese Taipei | 3–1 | Venezuela | 15–5 | 12–15 | 15–10 | 15–3 | | 57–33 |
| 30 Sep | Greece | 3–2 | Egypt | 11–15 | 15–8 | 12–15 | 15–13 | 15–12 | 68–63 |
| 1 Oct | Egypt | 3–1 | Chinese Taipei | 9–15 | 17–15 | 15–6 | 15–2 | | 56–38 |
| 1 Oct | Greece | 3–0 | Venezuela | 15–3 | 15–8 | 16–14 | | | 46–25 |

### Final round
#### 9th–12th places

| 9th–12th semifinals | 9th–12th semifinals | 9th place | 9th place |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris |
| Poland | 3 |
| Poland | 3 | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| China | 0 | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| China | 0 | Poland | 3 |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris | | Poland | 3 |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris | Japan | 0 |
| Japan | 3 | Japan | 0 |
| Italy | 2 | | |
| Italy | 2 | 11th place | 11th place |
| | | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| | | China | 0 |
| | | Italy | 3 |

##### 9th–12th semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 4 Oct | Poland | 3–0 | China | 15–11 | 15–10 | 15–3 | | | 45–24 |
| 4 Oct | Japan | 3–2 | Italy | 13–15 | 11–15 | 15–11 | 15–9 | 15–10 | 69–60 |

##### 11th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Oct | China | 0–3 | Italy | 7–15 | 8–15 | 13–15 | | | 28–45 |

##### 9th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Oct | Poland | 3–0 | Japan | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–8 | | | 45–31 |

#### 5th–8th places

| 5th–8th semifinals | 5th–8th semifinals | 5th place | 5th place |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris |
| Cuba | 3 |
| Cuba | 3 | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| Czechoslovakia | 1 | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| Czechoslovakia | 1 | Cuba | 3 |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris | | Cuba | 3 |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris | France | 1 |
| France | 3 | France | 1 |
| Argentina | 1 | | |
| Argentina | 1 | 7th place | 7th place |
| | | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| | | Czechoslovakia | 0 |
| | | Argentina | 3 |

##### 5th–8th semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 4 Oct | Cuba | 3–1 | Czechoslovakia | 17–15 | 15–7 | 14–16 | 15–8 | | 61–46 |
| 4 Oct | France | 3–1 | Argentina | 15–12 | 15–10 | 10–15 | 15–13 | | 55–50 |

##### 7th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Oct | Czechoslovakia | 0–3 | Argentina | 11–15 | 10–15 | 6–15 | | | 27–45 |

##### 5th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Oct | Cuba | 3–1 | France | 15–10 | 6–15 | 15–12 | 15–12 | | 51–49 |

#### Finals

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris |
| Soviet Union | 3 |
| Soviet Union | 3 | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| Bulgaria | 0 | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| Bulgaria | 0 | Soviet Union | 1 |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris | | Soviet Union | 1 |
| 4 October – Paris | 4 October – Paris | United States | 3 |
| United States | 3 | United States | 3 |
| Brazil | 0 | | |
| Brazil | 0 | 3rd place | 3rd place |
| | | 5 October – Paris | 5 October – Paris |
| | | Bulgaria | 3 |
| | | Brazil | 0 |

##### Semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 4 Oct | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–8 | 15–2 | 15–13 | | | 45–23 |
| 4 Oct | United States | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–5 | 15–9 | 15–3 | | | 45–17 |

##### 3rd place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Oct | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Brazil | 16–14 | 15–5 | 15–8 | | | 46–27 |

##### Final

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Oct | Soviet Union | 1–3 | United States | 15–12 | 11–15 | 8–15 | 12–15 | | 46–57 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | United States |
| | Soviet Union |
| | Bulgaria |
| 4 | Brazil |
| 5 | Cuba |
| 6 | France |
| 7 | Argentina |
| 8 | Czechoslovakia |
| 9 | Poland |
| 10 | Japan |
| 11 | Italy |
| 12 | China |
| 13 | Greece |
| 14 | Egypt |
| 15 | Chinese Taipei |
| 16 | Venezuela |
* 1986 Men's World champions
* United States 1st title
* Team roster
* Dusty Dvorak, David Saunders, Steven Salmons, Bob Ctvrtlik, Doug Partie, Steve Timmons, Craig Buck, Jeff Stork, Eric Sato, Patrick Powers, Karch Kiraly
* Head coach
* Marv Dunphy

## Awards

* Most Valuable Player
    Philippe Blain