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The road to the 2026 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Club World Championship is now mapped out.
The competition will take place in Poland from 15 to 20 December, bringing together eight clubs from Europe, South America, Asia and Africa in a six-day battle for the world title.
With reigning champions Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia returning to defend their crown and Polish runners-up Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie playing on home soil, the tournament promises an intriguing mix of established champions, continental powerhouses and ambitious challengers.
The group stage will run from Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 December, with Pool A matches hosted at Arena Sosnowiec and Pool B games taking place at Arena Katowice. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals in Częstochowa, where DMD Arena will host the decisive phase of the tournament. Following a rest day on Friday 18 December, the semi-finals will be played on Saturday, with the bronze-medal match and final scheduled for Sunday 20 December.
Pool A brings together Polish champions Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, Brazil’s Vôlei Renata, Turkish powerhouse Ziraat Bankkart and Iran’s Foolad Sirjan Iranian. Pool B features Perugia, Indonesian champions Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi, Egypt’s Al Ahly SC and Brazilian giants Sada Cruzeiro.
For Zawiercie, the tournament represents another opportunity to turn near misses into a major international triumph. The Polish side finished third at the 2025 Club World Championship in Belém before reaching the 2025–2026 CEV Champions League final, where Perugia denied them the European crown. Now, with the advantage of playing in front of their home supporters, Zawiercie will be determined to take the final step and claim their first world title.
Their campaign will be tested early. Zawiercie face Ziraat Bankkart on 16 December in a meeting between two of Europe’s leading teams last season. Ziraat finished third in the Champions League, while Zawiercie were runners-up, making their group-stage encounter one of the most anticipated matches of the opening phase. The result could prove crucial in determining who finishes top of Pool A.
Vôlei Renata also have unfinished business. Perugia ended the Brazilian club’s run in the semi-finals of the 2025 edition, leaving them eager for another opportunity to challenge for the title. Before any potential rematch can become reality, however, Renata must negotiate a demanding group that includes the hosts and Ziraat. Their meeting with Zawiercie on 17 December could be particularly significant in the race for a semi-final place.
In Pool B, all eyes will be on Perugia. The Italian side arrive as reigning European and world champions after defeating Japan’s Osaka Bluteon in the 2025 final to secure their third Club World Championship title. Their defence begins on 15 December against Sada Cruzeiro, setting up an immediate clash between two of the competition’s most decorated clubs.
Cruzeiro have a historic milestone within reach. The Brazilian powerhouse and Italy’s Trentino share the record for the most Club World Championship titles, with five apiece. A sixth triumph in Poland would give Cruzeiro sole possession of the record. Another podium finish would also bring the Brazilian club’s total number of medals to ten, matching Trentino’s competition record. Their opening match against Perugia will offer an early indication of their ambitions, although the group also includes two teams determined to make their mark.
Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi will be making their Club World Championship debut after conquering Asia. The Indonesian champions face a major challenge in a pool containing both Perugia and Cruzeiro, with their final group-stage match against the defending champions scheduled for 17 December. Their first appearance on this stage will nevertheless offer a significant opportunity to measure themselves against the world’s elite.
The draw also leaves open the possibility of a repeat of last season’s Champions League final. Perugia and Zawiercie have been placed in different pools, meaning they could meet again in the semi-finals or in the match for the world title on 20 December. A potential all-Brazilian showdown between Vôlei Renata and Sada Cruzeiro is another possibility, adding further intrigue to a tournament in which the final pairings will depend on the outcome of the group stage.
With six days of competition spread across three Polish cities, the 2026 Club World Championship will bring together some of the strongest teams in international club volleyball. Perugia will attempt to reinforce their status as the world’s leading club, Cruzeiro will chase an outright record, and Zawiercie will look to turn home advantage into the biggest achievement in their history.
The schedule is set; the fight for the world crown begins on 15 December.
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