An enthralling Pool A encounter between three-time world champions Italy and two-time bronze medallists Japan will officially open the FIVB men's world championship in Milan on September 25 at 16:00 (local time) following the confirmation of the schedule by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) on Friday.

Italy, champions in 1990, 1994 and 1998, will be looking to use home advantage to improve upon their two previous FIVB World Championship outings when they finished fifth in 2002 and 2006. Japan, hosts of the previous men's world championship, finished eighth in 2006. Five other matches will take place at the same time as the Italy-Japan match with two-time defending champions Brazil playing Tunisia in Pool B action in Verona, six time champions (as USSR) Russia taking on Cameroon in Pool C in Modena, Venuezuela play Argentina in an all-South American Pool D contest in Reggio Calabria, France come up against the Czech Republic in Torino in Pool E and 2006 silver medalists Poland play Canada in Pool F in Trieste.

The FIVB men's world championship Japan 2010 will feature a total of two games per day (the second matches start at 20:00) in each of the six pools during the first round for a total of 12 games per day from September 25-27. Other key games on the first day see Olympic champions USA play Mexico in Reggio Calabria in Pool D while 2006 World Championship bronze medalists Bulgaria take on China in Turin in Pool E.

Round two from September 30 to October 2 consists of one match per day in each of the six pools, which will be based in Catania, Milan and Ancona (two pools per venue) followed by the third round, which runs from October 4-6 and consists of one match per day in each of the four pools based in Rome and Florence.

The semifinals will take place in Modena and Florence on October 8 and October 9 before the final at 21:00 (local time) in Rome on October 10.