Official VNL 2026 quarterfinal match-ups and schedule released!

2 min read

20 July 2026 Ivan

VNL 2026 quarterfinal match-ups and schedule released!
With the men’s Volleyball Nations League Preliminary Phase wrapped up on Sunday, the quarterfinal match-ups and the match schedule for the Finals in Ningbo, China next week were released today.

On each of the four competition days – July 29 and 30, and August 1 and 2 – two matches will be played in Ningbo, always serving off at 15:00 and 19:30 local time.

In the opening quarterfinal on Wednesday, three-time semifinalists Slovenia will face Turkiye, who made it to the VNL Finals for the first time in the history of the competition.
In the second match on the first competition day, undefeated Preliminary Phase winners Japan will take on hosts China in an anticipated classic all-Asian clash.
Japan have medaled twice – with a bronze and a silver – in the competition and are now aiming at their first gold!

Thursday’s quarterfinal program will get underway with a super clash between last year’s runners-up and reigning world champions Italy and Paris 2024 bronze medalists and four-time VNL medalists United States, a remake of the Olympic bronze medal match in the French capital while, in the last quarterfinal, defending champions and world’s number one team Poland will face Ukraine, who also made the VNL Finals for the first time in history.

The winners of the matches between Japan and China and between Italy and USA will then meet in one of Saturday’s semifinals.
The other will feature two of the teams among Slovenia, Turkiye, Poland and Ukraine.