France will be hoping to defend their title in the expanded format ©Getty Images

A record 36 teams are due to participate in this year's edition of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Volleyball World League with the format of the tournament having been altered.

All 32 competing countries at the 2015 Volleyball World League will return to the premier annual men’s event, while Slovenia qualified after beating Macedonia 3-0 in the final of last year’s European League tournament.

Chinese Taipei, Germany and Qatar have been invited to attend the competition, which will be shorter than previous years to enable teams competin at this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with the opportunity to take part.

France will aiming for a repeat performance from last year, after they took part and won the Group 1 Finals held in Rio de Janeiro during July, beating Serbia 3-0 in the final.

The French team had begun the overall competition in Group 2, but reached the top tier following victory over hosts Bulgaria 3-0 in the Finals held in Varna, recording 15 consecutive wins, their longest-ever winning streak.

They are due to be joined in Group 1 by Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Iran, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia, the United States and Brazil, who boast the most titles having triumphed on nine occasions.

Serbia will be targeting their first title after losing in the 2015 Group 1 final
Serbia will be targeting their first title after losing in the 2015 Group 1 final ©FIVB

The preliminary round will adopt the same format as the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix as three different venues will host matches in each of the three weeks.

Teams have been separated into pools of four with action due to take place beaten June 17 and July 3, before the top five nations join hosts Poland in competing in the final round from July 13 to 17.

Group 2 will comprises of 12 teams with Cuba, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Czech Republic, Portugal, Finland and The Netherlands being joined by 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, scheduled to take place in an unconfirmed city on July 9 and 10.

Group 3, meanwhile, consists of Slovenia, Tunisia, Venezuela, Qatar, Mexico, Spain, Montenegro, Germany, Kazakhstan, Greece, Chinese Taipei and Puerto Rico, with the preliminary round due to place from June 17 to 26.

The Finals are scheduled to be held from July 1 to 3, with the hosts yet to be confirmed.