Kobe, Japan, September 29, 2018 – The United States will be meeting Azerbaijan for the second time and the defending champions are seeking to avenge their 3-2 loss to the Europeans in 2006 in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.
Head-to-head
• These teams have met once before at the World Championship. On 9 November 2006, Azerbaijan defeated United States 3-2 in Osaka, Japan.
• Azerbaijan are one of four opponents that United States have faced at the World Championship without ever beating them, alongside Poland (4), Romania (2) and Canada.
• Their meeting at the 2006 World Championship was the only one thus far between Azerbaijan and United States in a major competition at world level.
• World level major competitions are: Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix, Grand Champions Cup and Nations League.
Azerbaijan• Azerbaijan will be making a fourth appearance at the World Championship.
• Azerbaijan made their World Championship debut in 1994. Their ninth place finish in that year still ranks as their best showing in the tournament.
• At the World Championship in Italy four years ago, Azerbaijan finished in 15th place, two places lower than they had in their previous participation (13th in 2006).
• Azerbaijan have played nine of their 22 matches at World Championships in Japan and their track record in matches on Japanese soil is four wins and five defeats.
• Only one of Azerbaijan's 22 matches at World Championships was not a match in the pool phases. In 1994, they lost 3-1 to Germany in the Last 16.
United States
• United States are the reigning world champions. They won their maiden world title four years ago in Italy.
• United States will make a 16th appearance at the World Championship. Team USA only missed out in 1962 and 1952, the inaugural edition of the competition.
• United States have won five medals at the World Championship (G1-S2-B2), most by any NORCECA team. Cuba are next on four.
• United States are hoping to become the fifth team to retain a world title in women's volleyball, following Soviet Union/Russia, Japan, China and Cuba.
• United States won 11 of their 13 matches at the 2014 World Championship, only losing to Italy and Brazil in that tournament.