Next year, Group 2 will comprise of 12 teams competing in four-team pools over three weekends.

The participating teams are eight of those which competed in Group 2 this year - Cuba, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Czech Republic, Portugal, Finland and The Netherlands - as well as wild cards China, Turkey, Slovakia and 2015 Group 3 winners Egypt.

The top three sides, plus hosts Portugal, will then qualify for the Final Four, which is scheduled to take place in an unconfirmed city on July 9 and 10.

France came out on top in the 2015 Group 2 Finals, beating hosts Bulgaria 3-0 in Varna in July.

Victory earned them the last remaining spot at the Group 1 Finals in Rio de Janeiro later that month, a competition which they won ahead of runners-up Serbia.

France became the eighth team to win the World League after Brazil, Cuba, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia and the United States, with a 17-1 record.

They started their campaign with 15 consecutive wins in Group 2, their longest-ever winning streak in the World League, and only lost to the US in the pool stages of the Final Round.

Venues for the Group 1 Final Six, from July 13 to 17, and Group 3 Final Four, from July 1 to 3, are due to be announced at a later date.


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