The 1978 FIVB Men's World Championship was the ninth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 20 September 1 to October 1978 in Italy.

Qualification

• Yugoslavia and Puerto Rico withdrew and were replaced by Finland and United States.

Venues

Teams

Results

First round

Pool A

Location: Rome

Pool B

Location: Bergamo

Pool C

Location: Udine

Pool D

Location: Venice

Pool E

Location: Parma

Pool F

Location: Ancona

Second round

The results and the points of the matches between the same teams that were already played during the first round are taken into account for the second round.

1st–12th pools

Pool G

Location: Rome

Pool H

Location: Rome

13th–24th pools

Pool I

Location: Venice

Pool J

Location: Venice

Final round

21st–24th places

21st–24th semifinals

23rd place match

21st place match

17th–20th places

17th–20th semifinals

19th place match

17th place match

13th–16th places

13th–16th semifinals

15th place match

13th place match

9th–12th places

9th–12th semifinals

11th place match

9th place match

5th–8th places

5th–8th semifinals

7th place match

5th place match

Finals

Semifinals

3rd place match

Final

Final standing