The intense qualifying phase for the #EuroVolleyU22W 2026 European Championship has wrapped up, revealing the seven ambitious national teams that will challenge hosts the Netherlands for the title. These young squads have earned their ticket to the final round, set to take place in The Hague in July 2026, bringing the total number of contenders to eight.
After a weekend of high-stakes matches across Europe, the lineup for the championship is complete. Joining the Dutch hosts are:
- Italy
- Ukraine
- Poland
- Türkiye
- Serbia
- Spain
- Portugal
These seven teams navigated diverse qualification pools to secure their spots.
How They Qualified: Two Paths to Glory
Entry into the final round was determined through two primary routes: winning one of the five qualification pools or emerging as one of the two best runners-up across all pools. It`s a system designed to reward both dominant group performance and strong consistency in competitive pools.
Pool Winners: Demonstrating Dominance
The five teams who topped their respective groups demonstrated strong form:
- Italy
- Ukraine
- Poland
- Türkiye
- Serbia
Italy, Ukraine, and Türkiye showed impressive efficiency, conceding just one set each during their campaigns. Poland stands out as the only team to achieve a flawless record, not dropping a single set – a feat perhaps slightly aided by the unforeseen withdrawal of one opponent, but impressive nonetheless.
Serbia, while also topping their pool, faced sterner tests, notably overcoming Croatia 3-2 and Bulgaria 3-1, proving their mettle in tighter contests. Their path shows that sometimes, securing qualification requires digging deep and finding that extra gear.
Best Runners-Up: Earning the Remaining Spots
Identifying the two best runners-up required a bit of statistical adjustment. To ensure fairness across pools with different numbers of teams, results against the last-placed teams in four-team groups were excluded. Under this standardized metric, Spain and Portugal earned the coveted remaining berths.
Spain`s path included decisive straight-set wins and a crucial set taken against pool winner Türkiye, highlighting their ability to compete with the best. Portugal similarly secured their spot by pushing pool winner Italy and claiming a vital set, demonstrating their potential to challenge top contenders.
Looking Ahead to The Hague
The 2026 championship in The Hague will feature an initial pool phase, leading into the knockout stages and ultimately the medal matches. The stage is now set for these eight teams to compete for the prestigious U22 European crown.
All eyes will likely be on Italy, who arrive with a formidable pedigree in this age category, having claimed gold in both the 2022 and 2024 editions. Their pursuit of a third consecutive title adds an intriguing narrative to the upcoming tournament, setting a high bar for the competition.
Volleyball fans can look forward to seeing Europe`s top young talent compete for glory next summer in the Netherlands. The qualifiers have delivered a strong field, promising an exciting and highly competitive final round.
Torin Vale