Iran Secures Berth in 2013 FIVB World League

Iran's national volleyball team won its Asian archrival Japan to book a spot for the 2013 FIVB World League for the first time ever.

The Iranians won the match 25-16, 25-17, and 25-21 at Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex to secure a berth in the FIVB's premier annual men's event.

The reigning Asian champion also beat Japan in three straight sets in the first leg.

Iran dominated the game before more than 12,000 fans and beat Japan as its sixth successive win, including a victory in its last encounter at the Olympics qualifiers in Tokyo in June.

Iran is the 16th team to advance to the FIVB World League after Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Cuba, South Korea, the US, Serbia, Germany, Finland, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.

The performance of Julio Valesco’s side was also impressive at the 2011 World Cup with four wins out of five games.

The FIVB Volleyball World League is an international men's volleyball competition organized by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).