What: Volleyball World Championship, women.
When: 22 August–7 September.
Where: Thailand.
TV: SVT/SVT Play.
+ Historic championship
The European Championship finals 2021 was the first time in 38 years that the women's volleyball team reached a championship. It ended with a quarterfinal and a direct ticket to the European Championship 2023.
Now the women will play a World Championship for the first time. Last year, Sweden won the national team tournament Golden League and was able to climb the world rankings to secure the historic World Championship ticket.
+ Meet the host nation
Sweden plays in group A, which is one of two groups that will be decided in Bangkok. Sweden is ranked 26th in the world and had some luck in the draw.
Thailand (21st) was in the first seeding group as the host and was the easiest opponent from that pot. The world's eighth-ranked Netherlands is the toughest team in the group – the team knocked out Sweden in the European Championship quarterfinals 2021 and took European Championship bronze 2023. Egypt (53) is the lowest ranked in the group.
+ Sweden's schedule
Friday 22 August: Netherlands (12.00, Swedish time).
Sunday 24 August: Thailand (15.30).
Tuesday 26 August: Egypt (12.00).
+ Crazy home crowd?
Several Swedish players are looking forward to playing in front of the Thai crowd. "I've heard that Thai fans are crazy, it will be fun to play there. Not that they boo much, but that they support everyone who plays", says superstar Isabelle Haak.
+ Swedish squad
Setters: Hilda Gustafsson, Sonja Rundcrantz. Libero: Elsa Nordin Ottosson, Filippa Brink. Centers: Elsa Arrestad, Julia Nilsson, Kirsten van Leuden, Linda Andersson. Spikers: Isabelle Haak, Alexandra Lazic, Anna Haak, Martha Edlund, Maya Tabron, Sabrina Phinizy.
National team coach: Lorenzo Micelli.
+ Other groups
A total of 32 nations are participating, divided into eight four-team groups. The two top teams from each group will advance to the round of 16.
Group B (world ranking in parentheses): Italy (1), Belgium (14), Cuba (23), Slovakia (28).
Group C: Brazil (2), Puerto Rico (18), France (15), Greece (31).
Group D: USA (7), Czech Republic (13), Argentina (17), Slovenia (25).
Group E: Turkey (6), Canada (12), Bulgaria (20), Spain (32).
Group F: China (4), Dominican Republic (10), Colombia (19), Mexico (24).
Group G: Poland (3), Germany (11), Kenya (23), Vietnam (22).
Group H: Japan (5), Serbia (9), Ukraine (16), Cameroon (44).
