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.
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The distribution by confederation for the 2002 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship was:
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 1âÂÂ7 automatically qualified for the second round.
9 national teams entered qualification. The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1âÂÂ6 automatically qualified for the second round.
25 national teams entered qualification. The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1âÂÂ23 automatically qualified for the second round.
10 national teams entered qualification. The teams were distributed according to their position in the FIVB Senior Women's Rankings. Teams ranked 1âÂÂ7 automatically qualified for the second round.
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 1âÂÂ3 automatically qualified for the second round.