Iran pitted against Argentina, Netherlands, Egypt at World Volleyball Ch’ship

Iran was drawn in Pool F of the 2022 Volleyball Men's World Championship alongside Argentina, the Netherlands, and Egypt.

The draw for the competition in Russia – starting August 26 next year – took place on Thursday, where 24 teams were split into six groups.

Iran, under new head coach Behrouz Ataei, bounced back from frustrating campaigns at the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year to lift a second consecutive Asian trophy in Japan in September.

Two-time world champion Argentina finished the Tokyo Games on a high note, beating the old foe Brazil in five sets for the bronze medal.

Iran, Argentina, and the Netherlands were all involved in the 16-team VNL preliminary round in Italy in May-June but failed to progress to the semifinals.

Iran overcame the Netherlands in straight sets before conceding a 3-1 defeat against Argentina in the final outing in Rimini, Italy.

Egypt, absent in VNL and Tokyo, finished third at the African Nations Volleyball Championship in Rwanda in mid-September.

All games of Pool F will take place in the city of Krasnoyarsk, with the full schedule yet to be released.

Volleyball Federation of Russia (VFR) will kick off the event against African champion Tunisia in Saint St. Petersburg in Pool A, which also features Serbia and Puerto Rico.

Reigning back-to-back world champion Poland (in 2014 and 2018), meanwhile, were placed in Pool C, where they will meet USA, Mexico and Bulgaria.

World No. 1 Brazil, runner-up in 2018, will square off Japan, Qatar, and Cuba in Pool B.

Olympic gold winner France was drawn in Pool D alongside Slovenia, Germany and Cameroon, while Italy, Canada, Turkey, and China form the lineup of Pool E.