Since joining forces in 2017, Canadians Sarah and Melissa have become one of the most feared teams on the World Tour, reaching multiple finals and winning a number of tournaments in the past 18 months, including the Commonwealth Games. Two years ago in Vienna they came close to winning a medal, only to lose in the bronze medal match to Larissa/Talita.

One of another of strong Brazilian teams aiming to win the world crown, experienced Agatha and rising star Duda capped a fine 2018 season by winning the World Tour Finals in Hamburg. Agatha is a former world champ, winning the prize in 2015 with Barbara Seixas, while 20-year-old Duda will be aiming to add to her host of youth world titles by becoming the youngest ever winner of the senior tournament. The pair got off the mark for the season with gold in Ostrava.

Canadians Heather and Brandie finished fifth in their first World Championships together two years ago in Vienna and the duo, who have enjoyed a fine run of form together over the past 18 months will be strong contenders for medals in Hamburg. The talented pair have won a number of World Tour titles since joining forces in 2017, including back-to-back golds late last year.

Exciting Australian duo Mariafe and Taliqua have enjoyed a superb start to their partnership since joining forces in 2017, reaching the podium a number of times and winning a host of gold medals on the World and Asian Tours. Bronze medalists at last season’s World Tour Finals in Hamburg, the Aussies will make their debut at a World Championships as a team.

Two years ago Swiss pair Joana and Anouk finished ninth in Vienna and the duo will be hoping injuries that have stunted their progress and undoubted talent are behind them as they enter the 2019 season. The team enjoyed success with their previous partners – both played in the 2016 Olympics – and they continued their good performances together when joining forces in 2017, twice winning silver medals on the World Tour.

All eyes will be on reigning World and Olympic champion Laura Ludwig as she returns to action after a year off the sand aiming to regain her world title won in 2017 with Kira Walkenhorst. Given a wildcard for Hamburg, Ludwig will partner long-time friend and former indoor star Maggie Kozuch, who finished 17th in Vienna with Karla Borger in what was her first taste of the beach World Championships.

Reigning European champions Madeleine and Sanne will be looking to add to their list of titles when they take to the Rothenbaum. Keizer, who returned to the beach after time out to start a family, and Meppelink enjoyed a fine 2018 season, adding a bronze medal at the Vienna Major to their European gold. Already medaled in 2019 when winning bronze in Ostrava.

Adding to the list of strong Brazilian teams are Barbara and Fernanda, a partnership that have already enjoyed plenty of success on the World Tour in recent seasons. The duo disappointed in Vienna two years ago, finishing 17th, but 2015 World Champion Barbara and Fernanda have plenty of experience and talent to improve on that.

Americans Sara and Summer will be aiming to build on their excellent start to their partnership in Hamburg after a number of excellent performances on the World Tour. A first gold medal was won in Moscow last season the rising stars have rarely finished outside of the 10 at events in which they’ve contested. Two years ago, with different partners, Sara finished ninth, while Summer reached the quarter-finals.

Ittlinger/Laboureur (Germany)

A new team for 2019, Sandra and Chantal will have the support of the home fans behind them as they go in search of gold. Defender Labouruer has enjoyed a fine World Tour career and finishing fifth in the last two World Championships with Julia Sude. Ittlinger enjoyed a break-out season in 2018 with Kim Behrens, breaking into the world’s top 20.

Rebecca/Ana Patricia (Brazil)

Out of nowhere, Brazilians Rebecca and Ana Patricia have become serious contenders for the title after a stunning first year on the World Tour together. 20-year-old Ana Patricia, a multiple youth world champ (with Duda), and Rebecca will be making their senior World Championship debuts in Hamburg. They will go into the tournament as one of the form teams after winning a host of gold medals.

Klineman/Ross (USA)

The undisputed American number one team, Alix and April, aka The A-Team, head to Hamburg after a serious run of good form on both the international and domestic circuits. The experienced Ross already had a world title to her name, winning the tournament with Jennifer Kessy in 2009. Alix, meanwhile, will be making her debut having made the transition from indoor volleyball to partner April in 2017.

Carol/Maria Antonelli (Brazil)

Experienced Brazilian duo Carol and Maria have enjoyed notable success on the World Tour since joining forces in the summer of 2017. The pair have enjoyed a host of top five finishes, including in Vienna at the last World Championships two years ago. Maria has twice won bronze, finishing third in 2009 with Talita Antunes and 2015 with Juliana Felisberta.

Sponcil/Claes (USA)

Young American stars Sarah and Kelly go into the World Championships having already tasted success on the World Tour despite their limited appearances on the sand together since joining forces at the end of last season. Sarah will make her championships debut while Kelly finished an impressive ninth with Sara Hughes in Vienna two years ago.

Borger/Sude (Germany)

Hugely experienced Germans Karla and Julia embark on their first World Championships as a team having previously enjoyed success with past partners. Karla won silver with Britta Buthe at the 2013 championships while Julia has twice reached the quarter-finals, including in Vienna two years ago with Chantal Laboureur.

Larsen/Stockman (USA)

A number of consistent and impressive performances on the World Tour for Kelly and Emily earned the Americans their place at the Rothenbaum. The pair, who will both be making their World Championship debuts, finished fifth in the Majors in Vienna and Gstaad having had to qualify for the main draw of both five-star tournaments.

Lahti/Parkkinen (Finland)

Finnish duo Taru and Anniina booked their spot at the Rothenbaum after a number of solid displays on the World Tour over the past 18 months. They won their first medal together as a team in Tokyo last July when finishing second and secured bronze in their first tournament of 2019 in The Hague. Taru finished ninth at the last World Championships with Riikka Lehtonen while Anniina will make her debut in Hamburg.

Hüberli/Betschart (Switzerland)

The 2018 season was another super consistent one for Swiss pair Tanja and Nina who finished fifth on the World Championship debut as a team in Vienna two years ago. A host of top 10 results earned them their place in Hamburg and despite being only 26 and 23 years old respectively, they have already played over 35 tournaments together on the World Tour.

Makroguzova/Kholomina (Russia)

Risings stars Nadezda and Svetlana have twice won silver medals together at the Under-21 World Championships and the Russian youngsters will be aiming to stake a claim on the senior stage in Hamburg. The pair have already won a title on the World Tour and their consistent performances on the international circuit were enough to book them a place at the Rothenbaum.

Bieneck/Schneider (Germany)

Germany’s longest standing partnership competing in Hamburg, Victoria and Isabel have been consistently posting top-10 finishes on the World Tour since they joined forces at the beginning of 2017. The duo won the Under-23 World Championships together in 2013 and took a bronze medal in only their second senior tournament together in China in April 2017.

Wojtasik/Kociolek (Poland)

Kinga and Katarzyna have been a model of consistency on the World Tour since partnering up for the 2018 season, with top-10 finishes at four and five-star tournaments earning them a ticket to the Rothenbaum. The pair won a silver medal in only their second World Tour event and in Kinga they have a former Under-21 champion.

Sweat/Walsh Jennings (USA)

American pairing Brooke and Kerri need little introduction given what both have achieved in the sport. Kerri is a three-time World Champion, winning title with Misty May Treanor in 2003, 2005 and 200, while Brooke had posted fifth place finishes in the last two championships. The duo, given a wildcard for their opportunity at the Rothenbaum, teamed up at the back-end of 2018 and have already shown top form, often battling out of country quota and qualification to reach the top-10 in a host of tournaments before winning their first gold in China in May.

Behrens/Tillmann (Germany)

Earning their place to fight for glory on home sand via their World Ranking, Germans Kim and Cinja are a new team for 2019 and both players will make their World Championship debuts. Kim enjoyed a break-out 2018 campaign, posting a number of top-10 results with Sandra Ittlinger, while Cinja took two gold medals, including a stunning victory in Tokyo with Teresa Mersmann.

Liliana/Elsa (Spain)

There won’t be many more experienced teams in Hamburg than Liliana and Elsa. The Spaniards have played over 100 tournaments since first playing together way back in 2007. The duo have finished ninth in three World Championships in the past and will be aiming to better that performance in the Rothenbaum.

Wang/Xia (China)

Fan Wang and Xinyi Xia have impressed on the World Tour over the past 18 months, including a string of top-10 results in three and four-star events. Wang has the experience of two previous championships behind her, while Xinyi will be making her debut at the Rothenbaum.

Stubbe/Van Iersel (Netherlands)

A true mix of youth and experience, Joy, 21, and Marleen, 31, embark on their first World Championships as a team after pairing up last year. Results have been mixed but a ninth place in Gstaad and a fourth place in Itapema show the pair have the ability to cause teams problems. Marleen will be making her sixth appearance at the championships and has previously finished fifth and ninth three further times.

Birlova/Ukolova (Russia)

Experienced Russians Ekaterina and Evgeniya were reunited again in 2018 having partnered each other at three previous World Championships in the past. Having played over 50 World Tour tournaments together and their performances on the World Tour in recent months helped them secure a place in Hamburg through the European qualification pathway.

Schützenhöfer/Plesiutchnig (Austria)

Katharina and Lena entered the tournament at the very last minute replacing Czechs Marketa Sluková and Barbora Hermannova. The Austrians have partnered in almost 50 World Tour events and have won two golds, a silver and a bronze.

Wang/Xue (China)

Xinxin and Chen booked their spot at the Rothenbaum courtesy of their performances on the Asian Tour. While Xinxin will make her second appearance at the championships, Chen needs little reminder of her exploits, having taken the title with Xi Zhang in 2013 in Poland, aged just 24, two years after the same pairing won bronze in Rome.

Kravencoka/Graudina (Latvia)

Rising stars from Latvia Anastasija and Tina have posted a number of respectable results on the international scene despite their tender years. Tina, the FIVB’s Top Rookie of 2018, and Anastasija finished fifth in the Under-21 World Championships two years ago and now will make their senior debuts in Hamburg.

Ishii/Murakami (Japan)

Experienced Japanese duo Miki and Megumi enjoyed an excellent 2018 season with a number of impressive results at four and five-star tournaments. Their highlight was reaching the quarter-finals of the Gstaad Major and that result helped them go on to post top-10 finishes in all but one of their next seven tournaments. Both players head to Hamburg for their World Championship debuts.

Strbova/Dubovcova (Slovakia)

Andrea and Natalia booked their place at the Rothenbaum after qualifying through the European qualification pathway. The Slovakian pair posted a number of good results on the World Tour as 2018 turned into 2019. While Andrea makes her World Championship debut, Natalia will play in her third tournament.

McNamara M./McNamara N. (Canada)

Canadian sisters Megan and Nicole make their senior World Championship debuts after qualifying via Canada’s North/Central American qualification pathway. The 21-year-old twins have already posted a number of impressive results on the World Tour, narrowly missing out on a first medal when finishing fourth in a three-star event in Mexico in October last year.

Ling/Zeng (China)

The youngest team taking part in the tournament, 21-year-old Meimei and 18-year-old Jingin Zeng secured their place in Hamburg after qualifying from the Asian qualification pathway. The pair have limited senior World Tour experience, but posted a fifth place finish in their first senior tournament in Sydney in March.

Laird/Palmer (Australia)

Australians Nikki and Becchara have already celebrated success in 2019 when winning the three-star tournament on home sand in Sydney in March. Both players are former Olympians and booked their tickets to Hamburg courtesy of the Asian qualification pathway. Both players are no strangers to the World Championships, with Palmer finishing ninth in 2011 in Rome with Louise Bawden.

Gallay/Pereyra (Argentina)

Argentina’s hopes of glory at the Rothenbaum rest on the shoulders of the hugely experienced Ana and new partner Fernanda. The pair were awarded their place in Hamburg after qualifying through the South American pathway. Two-time Olympian and World Tour regular Gallay has twice appeared at World Championships before, while Fernanda will make her debut.

Orellana/Revuelta (Mexico)

Experienced Mexican pair Zaire and Martha booked their place at their first World Championships through the North and Central American qualification pathway. Regulars on the NORCECA circuit the duo have limited World Tour experience but finished an impressive fifth in their maiden international tournament on home sand in Chetumal back in October last year.

Schneider/Körtzinger (Germany)

Young Germans Sarah and Leonie were awarded a wildcard for their home World Championships. The team, new for 2019, will make their world champs debuts but can take confidence from recent results with other teammates. Schneider has already medaled three times in 2018 with three different partners, while Leonie had the honor of partnering Kira Walkenhorst in German national tour events on occasions last season.

Diana/Yuli (Colombia)

Colombians Diana and Yuli will make their World Championship debuts when they travel to Hamburg. The duo qualified through the South American qualification pathway and are regulars on the South American tours. In their sole World Tour event together they finished fifth in Brazil in a one-star event.

Mailen/Leila (Cuba)

Talented Cubans Mailen and Leila head to Hamburg after qualifiying through the North and Central American qualification pathway. The duo from the Caribbean have already tasted World Tour experience before, including Leila who with Lidiannis Echeverria posted a superb ninth place finish in Vienna two years ago.

Bausero/Rotti (Uruguay)

Young Uruguayans Camila and Lia will make their World Championship debuts in Hamburg having booked their spot through the South American qualification pathway. The duo finished ninth in the Youth Olympic Games together back in 2014.

Michelle/Pati (Paraguay)

Paraguayan pairing Michelle and Patricia are a mix of youth experience as they head for the Rothenbaum. Michelle might be just 21 years old, but she has already experience two World Championships, finishing 17th in The Hague. Patricia is the more experienced at 35 and her appearance in the Rothenbaum will be her second at a World Championships.

Mendoza/Lolette (Nicaragua)

Valeria and Lolette will make history in Hamburg as the first team from Nicaragua to ever play in a beach volleyball world championships. The qualified for their World Championships debut via the North and Central American qualification pathway.

Nnorgua/Franco (Nigeria)

For the first time in the competition’s history Nigeria will be represented after Tochukwu and Francisca booked their place in Hamburg in the African qualification process. The young duo, just 22 and 23, will also make their first ever appearances on the World Tour.

Randa/Doaa (Egypt)

Randa and Doaa head to Hamburg to make their World Championship debuts after qualifying via the African qualification pathway. Doaa is no stranger to the big international big stage, having previously played in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she finished 19th alongside Nada Meawad.

Maita/Letendrie (Mauritius)

Maita and Letendrie booked Mauritius only their second appearance at the World Championships having come through the African qualification pathway. The pair come with considerable experience but neither player have yet to taste any international action on the sand.

Nzayisenga/Hakizimana (Rwanda)

Rwanda appear at their second successive World Championships after Charlotte and Judith earned qualification through the African pathway. Charlotte has appeared twice on the international stage before, finishing 25th in the Under-23 World Championships in 2013 before posting a 37th place in Vienna two years ago. Judith will make her first ever appearance on the World Tour in the Rothenbaum.