Türkiye, China, Poland and Italy powered to straight-set victories on Thursday to take the early lead in their respective pools as 24 teams began their campaigns at the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship.
FIVB Volleyball Girls' U17 World Championship 2026
Türkiye, China, Poland and Italy set early pace at Girls’ U17 World Championship
USA, Czechia, Peru, Mexico, Spain, Croatia, Chinese Taipei and Korea also open campaigns with victories
Published 03:00, 07 Aug 2026
Pool A ended the opening day with three teams level on three points after Türkiye, the USA and Czechia all recorded straight-set victories.
The USA got past Egypt 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-17), before Türkiye defeated Thailand 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-15). Captain Ecrin Selis Turkyasar and Zeynep Doga Alpay scored 14 points each for Türkiye, who recorded 36 attack points, 11 blocks and nine aces against Thailand.
Czechia completed the Pool A winners with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-21) victory over hosts Chile. With all three winning teams on three points and a maximum set ratio, Türkiye finished Day 1 first in the pool on point ratio, followed by the USA and Czechia.
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Pool B produced the first five-set match of the tournament, with Mexico overcoming Venezuela 3-2 (25-21, 10-25, 25-20, 15-25, 15-7). Peru followed with a 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-14) win over Tunisia before defending champions China completed the pool's opening-day program against the Philippines.
China won 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-13), with Chen Ruihan scoring a team-high 12 points from 10 attacks and two blocks. The Philippines' Caera Celis, however, finished as the match's leading scorer with 13 points, including 12 attack points, one more than China's leading scorer.
China and Peru finished with three points each, with China taking first place in Pool B on point ratio. Mexico followed with two points after its five-set victory, while Venezuela collected one.
Poland were the only team to collect all three points in Pool C after beating Argentina 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-16). Zuzanna Lange scored 18 points, including 13 attack points, two blocks and three aces, while Gabriela Jakubowska added 11.
The remaining two matches in the pool both went to five sets. Croatia defeated Brazil 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-10, 15-6), while Spain came from two sets down to beat Japan 3-2 (9-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-6, 15-10).
Those results left Poland first in Pool C with three points, followed by Spain and Croatia with two each. Brazil and Japan collected one point apiece.
Pool D also finished with three unbeaten teams. Korea defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 (25-10, 25-23, 19-25, 26-24), while Chinese Taipei recorded a 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-19) victory over the Dominican Republic.
Son Seoyeon provided the leading individual scoring performance of the opening day in Korea's four-set victory, finishing with 28 points from 24 attacks, two blocks and two aces. Her total put her at the top of the Day 1 scoring standings, ahead of Croatia's Erin Ivezic with 24 points and Mexico's Gabriela Ayala, Japan's Ren Sugimoto and Spain's Alba Vicente with 21 each.
Italy then defeated Algeria 3-0 (25-8, 25-5, 25-10). Beatrice Scalzotto scored a team-high 11 points, while Italy finished with 36 attack points, seven blocks and 19 aces.
Italy, Chinese Taipei and Korea all finished Day 1 with three points, with Italy taking first place in Pool D on point ratio.
After the opening 12 matches, Türkiye led Pool A, China headed Pool B, Poland stood first in Pool C and Italy occupied the top spot in Pool D, with all 24 teams set to continue preliminary round play in Chile.