Russia withdraws from 2027 FIVB Men’s World Championship in Poland despite return to International Volleyball

Russia will not compete at the 2027 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship in Poland, despite recently being cleared to return to international competition following the lifting of its suspension by the FIVB.

The Russian national teams had been banned from FIVB events after the country’s invasion of Ukraine, a decision that also led to Russia losing the right to host the 2022 Men’s World Championship. That tournament was subsequently relocated to Poland and Slovenia.

Recently, the FIVB announced a roadmap for Russia’s return to international volleyball, aligning its position with earlier recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As part of the decision, Russia retained its place in the FIVB World Rankings, with the men’s national team currently ranked third—just behind Italy—and the women’s team sitting ninth. Poland’s men remain at the top of the rankings, while the country’s women’s team are sixth.

The announcement immediately sparked speculation that Russia would be eligible to participate in next year’s Men’s World Championship in Poland. However, the FIVB has now confirmed that the Russian Volleyball Federation has voluntarily withdrawn from the tournament, meaning the competition will go ahead without the former world powerhouse.

The situation is different on the women’s side. According to the FIVB, discussions are ongoing regarding Russia’s possible participation in the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship, which will be jointly hosted by Canada and the United States. The federation said the final decision will largely depend on the event organizers.

The 2027 Men’s World Championship will be held in Poland from September 10 to 26 and will feature 32 national teams. Hosts Poland have already secured their place, while reigning world champions Italy also qualify automatically.

Although Russia will not appear at the men’s world championship, both its men’s and women’s national teams are set to return for the 2027 Volleyball Nations League. Earlier reports suggested their reinstatement could come at the expense of Finland and Slovenia, the two teams promoted this season. Instead, the FIVB has expanded the competition from 18 to 19 teams, creating an additional place for Russia as the highest-ranked national team not already qualified for the tournament.

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