Round-robin tournaments are scheduled to start in Xi'an, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro with eight countries placed in each.

The top two from each event will book their place at next year's Olympic Games, joining host nation France who have automatically qualified and will be aiming to defend their Tokyo 2020 title on home soil.

Only the top 24 teams in the International Volleyball Federation rankings, as of September 12, 2022, are eligible to compete in Road to Paris events.

The qualifier in China at the Xi'an Qujiang Arena includes world number one side Poland who have not lost a match since June and are enjoying a 17-game winning streak.

After relinquishing their world title by losing the final to Italy last year, the Poles recovered by winning the Volleyball Nations League for the first time as well as the European Championships where they took revenge on the Italians in the gold medal match.

Also in the group are Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallists Argentina, who are ranked sixth in the world, and The Netherlands, who are ranked 10th.

Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Bulgaria and hosts China complete the tournament. 

Tokyo's qualifier will take place at Yoyogi National Stadium and will double up as the Volleyball World Cup - a competition which has been held 12 times previously in Japan.

Four teams within the top 10 of the rankings are involved, including world number two side and North American champions United States.

Hosts and Asian champions Japan are ranked fifth with Slovenia placed eighth and Serbia ninth.

Turkey, Tunisia, African champions Egypt and Finland complete the group.

Three-time Olympic gold medallists Brazil will headline their home tournament at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanãzinho Stadium alongside reigning world champions Italy.

Brazil, ranked fourth in the world, missed out on a medal at Tokyo 2020 when they lost the bronze medal clash to fierce rivals Argentina.

The Italians, ranked at number three, won their fourth World Championship in Poland last year.

Both countries met in the Rio 2016 Olympic final at Maracanãzinho, when Brazil came out on top for a memorable home gold.

Asian Games winners Iran, Cuba, Ukraine, Germany, Czech Republic and Qatar complete the group.

All three tournaments are scheduled to conclude on October 8, with four matches per day in each apart from two rest days.

A further five places will then be available at Paris 2024, which will be decided through the world rankings on June 24 next year.

Teams from a continent without a qualified side will be given priority. 

Russia, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallists, will not compete in Paris as the International Olympic Committee has banned team sports from the country due to the invasion of Ukraine.