After two decades away from the international volleyball stage, Belgium have been gradually establishing themselves as a force once again. They made their World Grand Prix debut last year and won Group 2 by defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in the Final Four final. They progressed to the Final Six of Group 1 but failed to win a match and finished sixth. Belgium have competed at three World Championships spanning six decades. Last year they ended up in joint-11th place, they were 13th in 1956 and 22nd in 1978.
Known as the Yellow Tigers, Belgium began competing consistently at continental level in the 1960s, making their European Championship debut in 1967 and appearing three more times over the next 20 years. They finished 14th in 1967 and 12th in 1975, 1979 and 1987. They would have to wait 20 years before returning, but in 2007 a creditable seventh-place finish paved the way for greater things. They slipped to 11th in 2009 but returned to have a breakthrough year in 2013. They claimed a silver medal in the European League and two months later travelled to the European Championship. There they battled it out with Serbia for third place, and stunned them with a dramatic 3-2 win to take the bronze medal.