TEHRAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran came from behind to beat Cuba 3-2 (23-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-16, 15-10) on the first day of Olympic Men's Volleyball Qualification on Friday, Tehran times daily reported.

Ali Shafiei scored 20 points for Iran and Osniel Lazaro Mergarejo Hernandez led Cuba with 15 points.

A total of 24 teams are competing in six pools of four, with the table toppers punching their tickets for next year's Olympic Games.

The six pool winners will be joining Japan at Tokyo 2020, with the hosts having already claimed one of the 12 berths.

A further five teams will emerge in January from the Continental Olympic Qualifying Tournaments to complete the Tokyo 2020 line-up.

Iran will face Mexico on Saturday and meet Russia in Pool E on Sunday.