Everything on the line as VNL teams chase Finals berths and relegation survival

Set to begin on Wednesday, the third and last week of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026 Preliminary Phase will determine the eight women's national teams qualified for the Finals and the one that will not return to the event in 2027 after facing relegation.

With exciting battles going on at both the top and the bottom of the VNL standings, the 36 matches held in the three host cities - China's Hong Kong, Japan's Osaka and Serbia's Belgrade - between Wednesday and Sunday will provide the answers for national teams that fight to stay alive in the race for the title and the ones working to keep their spots in the sport's premier annual event.

• Watch the Volleyball Nations League 2026 on VBTV

The host country of the VNL Finals, which will be held in Macao from July 22-26, China are the only national team already qualified. The seven best teams in the Preliminary Phase will also advance. At the bottom of the standings, the team that ends the week in 18th place will lose its spot in the VNL 2027, being replaced by the best-ranked national team in the FIVB World Rankings that didn't participate in the event this season.

Heavyweights clash in Osaka

The pool hosted in Osaka will feature plenty of exciting duels over the week, with five of the six best-ranked teams in the VNL 2026 - leaders the United States, second-placed Brazil, fourth-placed Poland, fifth-placed Japan and sixth-placed Türkiye - playing there alongside 14th-placed Thailand, which are involved in the race to avoid relegation.

Wednesday's match schedule in the Japanese city will begin with an all-European clash reuniting Poland and Türkiye at 12:00 local time (3:00 GMT). The two sides have six wins in eight matches (the Poles rank higher because they have 17 points to 15 of the Turks), and starting the week with a seventh victory would place them one step closer to the Finals.

Later, at 15:30 (6:30 GMT), Thailand and the United States will meet in the second match of the day in Osaka. While the Americans, who are on a six-match winning streak and have a 7-1 win record (20 points), will play to keep their spot at the top o of the VNL standings, the Thais will try to cause an upset and get some separation from the bottom - they have two wins and nine points.

The schedule will be completed with what should be an electrifying duel between Brazil and Japan at 19:20 (10:20 GMT). Both teams are coming from defeats, as Brazil lost to Germany in their last match in the second week, accumulating 20 points with seven wins and a loss, while the Japanese have a 6-2 win record and 16 points after falling to the Dominican Republic and Italy in their two most recent matches.

Canada play key match on Wednesday in Hong Kong

The matches held in Hong Kong will have an impact on different parts of the standings, with third-placed Italy, seventh-placed Canada and 12th-placed Belgium fighting to qualify for the Finals and 15th-placed Ukraine and 17th-placed the Dominican Republic battling to avoid relegation. Guaranteed in the Finals, eighth-placed China will have the privilege of using the week to fine-tune their game ahead of the decisive round.

Currently outside the qualification zone for the Finals, Belgium, which have three wins and eight points, will look to start the week on a high facing the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, at 11:30 local time (3:30 GMT). The Caribbeans are right above the relegation zone with a win and five points and will be looking to collect positive results from the start in Hong Kong.

Later, at 17:00 (9:00 GMT), two-time defending champions Italy will try to take another step forward in their title defense. With six wins and 18 points accumulated, they will face rookies Ukraine, who have two wins and six points and need to add to it to end the week guaranteed in the VNL 2027.

The most consequential match of the first day of action in Hong Kong may be the last one, featuring Canada and hosts China at 20:30 (12:30 GMT). While the Asians, which have five wins and 14 points, are guaranteed in the Finals, the Canadians, which have five wins and 15 points, need to further solidify their spot in the qualification zone and can't miss any chances this week.

Bošković and Ognjenović return for Serbia

In Belgrade, hosts Serbia will count on two important returns this week in front of their home fans. Ranked 13th in the standings, they will be joined by ninth-placed the Netherlands, tenth-placed Czechia, 11th-placed Germany, 16th-placed Bulgaria and 18th-placed France in the pool hosted in their country's capital.

Their two most experienced and most talented players, opposite Tijana Bošković and setter Maja Ognjenović, are set to appear in the VNL 2026 for the first time this week, potentially featuring in their match against Bulgaria on Wednesday at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT). The Serbians, which have two wins and ten points, rely on them to make a strong push for the Finals, while the Bulgarians, which have two wins and five points, play to avoid the bottom of the standings.

Earlier, at 16:30 (14:30 GMT), Czechia and Germany will meet in a direct duel for a spot in the standings. Both teams have 11 points accumulated so far, but the Czechs rank higher for having four victories to three of the Germans.

Also heavily involved in the battle for a spot in the Finals, the Netherlands, which have four wins and 12 points, will try to make France's situation even more complicated in the race against relegation in the first match of the day, set to start at 13:00 (11:00 GMT). The French are currently at the bottom of the VNL standings with one win and four points and need to significantly improve their performance to remain in the tournament in 2027.

VNL 2026 schedule and results
VNL 2026 ticket information

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