Mexican organizers prepare to host beach volleyball world championships for the first time

It is not hard to envision a festive atmosphere when the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships come to Mexico for the first time in September 2023. Margaritas and cervezas will certainly be flowing as Mexican fans watch the biggest volleyball stars on sand, serving, setting and spiking, towards world titles.

Arenas in the Mexican cities of Tlaxcala, Huamantla and Apizaco will be home to the 14th edition of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship next fall.

The championships, October 6-15, will be the first hosted outside of Europe in 20 years. Rio de Janeiro hosted the world’s best beach volleyball players in 2003, the last time the marquee event was played on Latin American sand.

Forty-eight teams per gender will be competing, all seeking not only world titles, but also to help punch their tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The two winning duos guarantee their country a spot at the next Summer Games.

“We have no doubt that athletes and fans will be impressed by Mexico’s warm welcome and hospitality, as well as the jaw-dropping action on the sand,” said FIVB general director Fabio Azevedo.

“We already know that the fans here in Mexico are very passional and knowledgeable about beach volleyball and it is a great opportunity for us to offer them the best of our sport in 2023.”

The championships are the work of Volleyball World, a new partnership between the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and CVC Capital partners, aimed at driving growth, innovation and investment in volleyball around the globe.

“Bringing the world’s most important beach volleyball championships to Mexico is a significant step forward for the sport,” said Volleyball World chief executive officer Finn Taylor.

“As beach volleyball continues to flourish globally, we are excited to add a new host country to the rich history of the illustrious event. We can’t wait for fans around the world to come to Mexico to experience the host country and our beautiful sport.

“The championships also further cements our commitment to bringing top level beach volleyball to Mexico, which will also see multiple high-profile Beach Pro Tour tournament staged in this country over the next five years.”

Azevedo also highlighted how the FIVB and the 2023 Championships will help to grow the sport throughout the warm weather, beach-filled country.

“As part of the FIVB’s innovative program of Volleyball Empowerment, aimed at supporting national teams around the globe, the FIVB will continue to provide coaching support to Mexico’s best volleyball teams, currently ranked among the 35 best teams, on the road to the world championships.”

Mexico has never won an Olympic or World Championship medal in beach volleyball.

Volleyball World’s longer term goals and ambitions are to create an integrated ecosystem connecting all volleyball stakeholders – fans, athletes, and corporate partners – together through both digital and live events.

The dedicated organization is responsible for the commercial operation of key volleyball and beach volleyball international events, including: the World Championships, Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Qualifiers and Beach Pro Tour.

The Norwegian Vikings Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, both Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalists and Rome 2022 World Champions, will be seeking to defend their titles in Mexico. Having partnered together since late 2016, the Norwegian tandem also has four European titles to their credit.

On the women’s side, Brazilian World Champions Eduarda Santos Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos will seek a second consecutive title, attempting to do so on Mexican sand.

The city of Tlaxcala is located about 120 kilometers or a two-hour drive, east of Mexico City. Huamantla and Apizaco are smaller towns in the nearby vicinity.

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