1998 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship
The 1998 FIVB Women's World Championship was the thirteenth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 3 to 12 November 1998 in Tokyo, Tokuyama, Matsumoto, Kagoshima, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Osaka, Japan. Venues. Source: Format. The tournament was played in three different stages (first, second and final rounds). In the , the 16 participants were divided in four groups of four teams each. A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams' group position, the three best teams of  each group (total of 12 teams) progressed to the next round. In the , the 12 teams were divided into two groups of six teams. A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams' group position, matches already played between teams in the were counted in this round. The four best teams of each group (total of 8 teams) progressed to the next round (group winners and runners-up to 1st–4th place semifinals and group thirds and fourths to 5th–8th place semifinals). The was played in a single elimination format and consisted of two sets of  semifinals and finals (one to determine 1st–4th places and the other for 5th–8th places). For the tournament's final standings, teams which did not reach placement matches were allocated as: Pools composition. The drawing of lots took place on 20 April 1998 in Tokyo, Japan. Teams were seeded in the first two positions of each pool following the Serpentine system according to their FIVB World Ranking. FIVB reserved the right to seed the hosts as head of Pool A regardless of the World Ranking. All teams not seeded were drawn to take other available positions in the remaining lines. The  number after the team's name reflect its FIVB World Ranking in October 1998. Results. All times are Japan Standard Time (). First round. Pool A. Venue: National Yoyogi Stadium, Tokyo Pool B. Venue: Tokuyama City Sports Center, Tokuyama Pool C. Venue: Matsumoto City Gymnasium, Matsumoto Pool D. Venue: Kagoshima Arena, Kagoshima 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. Pool E. Venue: Nagoya Rainbow Hall, Nagoya Pool F. Venue: Marine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka Final round. Venue: Osaka Chuo  Gymnasium, Osaka