The 2018 Sitting Volleyball World Championships is just a few weeks away and for the fifth time, the Netherlands will host the prestigious event that will take place from July 15 to 22.

Sixteen teams have qualified. For the women’s tournament, besides the hosts the Netherlands, included also are the defending champions China, USA, Brazil, Ukraine, Iran, Russia, Rwanda, Canada, Japan, Slovenia, Finland, Egypt, Italy, Hungary and Croatia.

On the other hand, the men’s tournament consists of the hosts Netherlands, reigning world champions Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iran, Brazil, Egypt, Ukraine, Germany, China, USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Poland, Croatia, Japan and Rwanda.

The men’s preliminary round matches will take place in Venlo and Eindhoven before the semifinals and finals take place in The Hague on July 21 and 22. Meanwhile Arnhem hosts the women’s preliminary round matches before heading to Rotterdam for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals from July 19 to 21.

Bosnia & Herzegovina are the defending champions among men and will start again as strong contenders for gold, trying to take revenge on Iran after losing out to them in the final at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

In the women’s tournament a thrilling showdown is expected between defending champions China, who topped the podium in Elblag, Poland, in 2014, and Paralympic gold medallists USA, who defeated the Chinese team in the final at Rio 2016.

Check out World ParaVolley’s official website www.worldparavolley.org or our social media accounts for Facebook (www.facebook.com/WorldParaVolley), Twitter (www.twitter.com/ParaVolley) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/WorldParaVolley) for the upcoming schedules and important announcements.