24 teams competed in the 2002 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship, with two places allocated for the hosts, Germany and the titleholder, Cuba. In the qualification process for the 2002 FIVB World Championship, the Five FIVB confederations were allocated a share of the 22 remaining spots.
1.Competed as West Germany from 1956 to 1990; 3rd appearance as Germany.
2.Competed as Czechoslovakia from 1952 to 1986; 2nd appearance as Czech Republic.
3.Competed as Soviet Union from 1952 to 1990; 3rd appearance as Russia.
The distribution by confederation for the 2002 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship was:[1]
9 national teams entered qualification. (South Africa and Ghana later withdrew) The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1–7 automatically qualified for the second round.
width=33% | Sub Pool A | width=33% | Pool A | width=33% | Pool B |
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valign=top | 1st Sub Pool A |
9 national teams entered qualification. The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1–6 automatically qualified for the second round.
width=33% | Sub Pool B | width=33% | Pool C | width=33% | Pool D |
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valign=top | 2nd Sub Pool B | 1st Sub Pool B |
25 national teams entered qualification. The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1–23 automatically qualified for the second round.
width=25% | Sub Pool C | width=25% | Pool E | width=25% | Pool F | width=25% | Pool G |
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valign=top | 1st Sub Pool C | ||||||
Pool H | Pool I | Pool J | |||||
10 national teams entered qualification. The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1–7 automatically qualified for the second round.
width=33% | Sub Pool D | width=33% | Pool K | width=33% | Pool L |
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valign=top | 1st Sub Pool D |
6 national teams entered qualification. (Uruguay and Chile later withdrew) The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1–3 automatically qualified for the second round.
width=50% | Sub Pool E | width=50% | Pool M |
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valign=top | 1st Sub Pool E |