2026 Women's European Volleyball Championship qualification

Last updated

This article describes the qualification for the 2026 Women's European Volleyball Championship. [1]

Contents

Qualification

Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Sweden and Turkey as host countries were directly qualified. The eight best placed teams at the 2023 edition also gained direct entries into the tournament. 21 teams compete for the remaining 12 places at the final tournament.

Means of qualificationQualifierMeans of qualificationQualifier
Host CountriesFlag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Qualification Pool A Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Pool B Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Pool C Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Pool D Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
2023 European Championship Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Pool E Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Pool F Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Pool G Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Best runners-up Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of France.svg  France Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Total 24

Direct qualification

All of the hosted countries' teams directly qualified for the tournament. Then, the top eight teams from previous edition also automatically qualified.

Qualified for the 2026 European Championship
Qualified as hosts for the 2026 European Championship
RankTeam
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
4Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
5Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
6Flag of France.svg  France
7Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
8Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
9Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
10Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
11Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
12Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
13Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
14Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
15Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
16Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
17Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan
18 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina
19Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
20Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
21Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
22Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
23Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia
24Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary

Format

There being seven pools of either three teams each, the winners of each pool and the 5 best runners-up qualified for the 2026 European Championship. The pools were played in a double round-robin.

Schedule

The dates were updated to adapt to the new FIVB calendar.

RoundRound date [1] [2]
Matchday 117/18 August 2024
Matchday 224/25 August 2024
Matchday 328/29 August 2024
Matchday 42/3 August 2025
Matchday 56 August 2025
Matchday 69/10 August 2025

Pools composition

The pools were set following the Serpentine system according to their European Ranking for national teams as of 6 November 2023. Rankings are shown in brackets. [1]

Pool APool BPool CPool DPool EPool FPool G
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany (6)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (10)Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia (13)Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina (15)Flag of Spain.svg  Spain (16)Flag of Greece.svg  Greece (17)Flag of Romania.svg  Romania (18)
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland (26)Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary (25)Flag of Israel.svg  Israel (24)Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro (23)Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal (22)Flag of Austria.svg  Austria (21)Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia (19)
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland (27)Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark (28)Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia (29)Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia (31)Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia (32)Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia (33)Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo (NR)

Pool standing procedure

  1. Number of matches won
  2. Match points
  3. Sets ratio
  4. Points ratio
  5. If the tie continues as per the point ratio between two teams, the priority will be given to the team which won the last match between them. When the tie in points ratio is between three or more teams, a new classification of these teams in the terms of points 1, 2 and 3 will be made taking into consideration only the matches in which they were opposed to each other.

Match won 3–0 or 3–1: 3 match points for the winner, 0 match points for the loser
Match won 3–2: 2 match points for the winner, 1 match point for the loser

Results

Pool A

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 43191033.3333272571.272 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 4226890.8893683671.003
3Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 41335110.4553103810.814
Source: CEV
DateTimeScoreSet 1Set 2Set 3Set 4Set 5TotalReport
18 Aug 202415:00 Finland  Flag of Finland.svg2–3Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 25–1826–2823–2525–1712–15111–103 Report
24 Aug 202417:00 Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg0–3Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 36–3818–259–25  63–88 Report
29 Aug 202418:00 Germany  Flag of Germany.svg3–0Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 25–2025–2025–15  75–55 Report
2 Aug 202514:00 Finland  Flag of Finland.svg3–1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 25–2125–1818–2527–25 95–89 Report
6 Aug 202519:00 Germany  Flag of Germany.svg3–0Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 25–1025–1725–17  75–44 Report
10 Aug 202516:00 Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg2–3Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 25–1915–2521–2525–2214–16100–107 Report

Pool B

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 4319933.0002862411.187 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 4318951.8003102731.136
3Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 40412120.1672523340.754
Source: CEV
DateTimeScoreSet 1Set 2Set 3Set 4Set 5TotalReport
17 Aug 202419:00 Denmark  Flag of Denmark.svg2–3Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 28–2618–2525–1716–259–1596–108 Report
24 Aug 202418:30 Hungary  Flag of Hungary.svg3–0Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 25–2225–1825–20  75–60 Report
28 Aug 202420:30 Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg3–0Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 25–1925–1725–23  75–59 Report
3 Aug 202517:00 Denmark  Flag of Denmark.svg0–3Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 16–2524–2615–25  55–76 Report
6 Aug 202520:00 Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg3–0Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 25–1325–1925–20  75–52 Report
10 Aug 202518:00 Hungary  Flag of Hungary.svg3–0Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 25–1325–1425–15  75–42 Report

Pool C

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 44012120MAX3001951.538 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 4226670.8572662930.908
3Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 40401120.0832403180.755
Source: CEV
DateTimeScoreSet 1Set 2Set 3Set 4Set 5TotalReport
17 Aug 202416:00 Estonia  Flag of Estonia.svg1–3Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 23–2518–2525–1821–25 87–93 Report
27 Aug 202419:00 Slovenia  Flag of Slovenia.svg3–0Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 25–1925–1325–15  75–47 Report
29 Aug 202419:00 Slovenia  Flag of Slovenia.svg3–0Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 25–2125–1625–17  75–54 Report
2 Aug 202517:00 Estonia  Flag of Estonia.svg0–3Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 10–2516–2517–25  43–75 Report
6 Aug 202520:00 Israel  Flag of Israel.svg0–3Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 18–2517–2516–25  51–75 Report
9 Aug 202520:00 Israel  Flag of Israel.svg3–0Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 25–1825–2325–15  75–56 Report

Pool D

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 431101142.7503502641.326 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 4226981.1253813101.229
3Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 41323110.2731763330.529
Source: CEV
DateTimeScoreSet 1Set 2Set 3Set 4Set 5TotalReport
17 Aug 202416:15 Latvia  Flag of Latvia.svg3–2Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 26–2425–1924–2623–2515–9113–103 Report
25 Aug 202420:00 Montenegro  Flag of Montenegro.svg3–0Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 25–025–025–0  75–0 Report
28 Aug 202420:15 Bosnia and Herzegovina  Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg0–3Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0–250–250–25  0–75 Report
2 Aug 202520:00 Latvia  Flag of Latvia.svg2–3Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 25–2319–2525–2324–2613–15106–112 Report
6 Aug 202519:30 Bosnia and Herzegovina  Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg0–3Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 24–2616–2524–26  64–77 Report
10 Aug 202519:00 Montenegro  Flag of Montenegro.svg3–1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 20–2525–2025–2325–19 95–87 Report

Pool E

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 440111226.0003332361.411 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 4227861.3333092871.077
3Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 40400120.0001813000.603
Source: CEV
DateTimeScoreSet 1Set 2Set 3Set 4Set 5TotalReport
17 Aug 202419:00 Georgia  Flag of Georgia.svg0–3Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 23–2518–2521–25  62–75 Report
25 Aug 202417:00 Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg0–3Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 20–2522–2521–25  63–75 Report
28 Aug 202417:00 Spain  Flag of Spain.svg3–0Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 25–925–825–12  75–29 Report
2 Aug 202519:00 Georgia  Flag of Georgia.svg0–3Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 19–2514–2515–25  48–75 Report
6 Aug 202519:30 Spain  Flag of Spain.svg3–2Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 25–1820–2525–2023–2515–8108–96 Report
10 Aug 202517:00 Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg3–0Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 25–825–1625–18  75–42 Report

Pool F

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4401212112.0003182041.559 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 4226761.1672832711.044
3Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 40400120.0001743000.580
Source: CEV
DateTimeScoreSet 1Set 2Set 3Set 4Set 5TotalReport
17 Aug 202420:15 North Macedonia  Flag of North Macedonia.svg0–3Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 14–2517–2520–25  51–75 Report
25 Aug 202420:20 Austria  Flag of Austria.svg0–3Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 18–2520–2523–25  61–75 Report
28 Aug 202420:30 Greece  Flag of Greece.svg3–0Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 25–825–1425–11  75–33 Report
3 Aug 202520:00 North Macedonia  Flag of North Macedonia.svg0–3Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 8–2511–2519–25  38–75 Report
6 Aug 202520:00 Greece  Flag of Greece.svg3–1Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 25–1925–1418–2525–14 93–72 Report
9 Aug 202517:35 Austria  Flag of Austria.svg3–0Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 25–1925–2325–10  75–52 Report

Pool G

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 43191033.3333132271.379 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 4319942.2503032541.193
3Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 40400120.0001653000.550
Source: CEV
DateTimeScoreSet 1Set 2Set 3Set 4Set 5TotalReport
17 Aug 202420:00 Kosovo  Flag of Kosovo.svg0–3Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 16–2518–259–25  43–75 Report
24 Aug 202418:00 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg3–0Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 25–1925–1425–22  75–55 Report
29 Aug 202418:00 Romania  Flag of Romania.svg3–0Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 25–1325–1625–14  75–43 Report
2 Aug 202520:30 Kosovo  Flag of Kosovo.svg0–3Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 12–2520–2516–25  48–75 Report
6 Aug 202518:00 Romania  Flag of Romania.svg3–1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 22–2525–2126–2425–18 98–88 Report
9 Aug 202519:00 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg3–0Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 25–825–1225–11  75–31 Report

Ranking of the second placed teams

PosTeamPldWLPtsSWSLSRSPWSPLSPRQualification
1Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 4319942.2503032541.193 2026 European Championship
2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 4318951.8003102731.136
3Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 4227861.3333092871.077
4Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 4226981.1253813101.229
5Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 4226761.1672832711.044
6Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 4226890.8893683671.003
7Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 4226670.8572662930.908
Source: CEV

Controversies

Bosnia and Herzegovina's temporary withdrawal

After withdrawing from the Silver League in the 2024 Women's European Volleyball League, [3] [4] the president of the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina controversially withdrew the team from the European Championship qualification despite the women's team being named the best Bosnian national team in 2023 and qualifying for two successive European Championships. [5]

When the federation announced this decision, the Volleyball Federation president, Milutin Popović, criticized members of the Armed Forces for internal disagreements in the association and also stated the some board members did not respond to him regarding the organization of a meeting to do with the participation of the Bosnian national teams in 2024. Thus, they only managed to organize a meeting on 7 August, two weeks from Bosnia's first game against Montenegro. [6] Due to the lack of meetings, the federation also failed to get a coach for the qualifiers. Plus, he also alleged that they didn't receive funding from the government via the national lottery.

Following that statement, the Federation vice president, Alija Fatić, responded to Popović by saying that it was not their decision to withdraw, rather it was Popović's choice not to play the qualifiers and is quoted saying ""The real truth is that Popovic is incompetent, he didn't do anything". [7] Fatić also states that, unlike what Popović says, they have had several meetings but conversations about the national team was never on the agenda. The volleyball federation had also reportedly offered to fund the preparations and qualification matches, with the Bosnian Olympic Committee also offering to provide equipment, but Popović rejected this proposal. [7] [5]

President of the volleyball federation, Miloš Jelčić, further reiterated Fatić's claim while also mentioning that other athletes like swimmer Lana Pudar and her coaches have the same issues with Popović too. [8]

On 28 August 2024, the Bosnian volleyball federation denied media reports regarding their finances. [9]

In Popović's statement, he reportedly asked the CEV, if they receive the approval from group opponents Montenegro and Latvia, they would like to postpone their qualifiers for 2025. [6] However, this seems unlikely.

It is likely that the Bosnian volleyball federation will be fined 50,000 Euros and suspended from national team competitions for two years due to their no-show in the qualifiers. [5]

Bosnia and Herzegovina returned to the competition on 2 Aug 2025.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "CEV EuroVolley 2026" (PDF). inside.cev.eu.
  2. ↑ "Volleyball players against the Czech Republic and Norway for Eurovolley, volleyball players from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Latvia".
  3. ↑ "SISTEMSKO URUŠAVANJE SPORTA: Otkazan nastup ženske reprezentacije BiH". www.ljudski.ba. May 3, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Sport1 - Reakcija članova UO OSBiH iz Federacije BiH: Jedini krivac je Milutin Popović". www.oslobodjenje.ba. May 11, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 "Sport1 - SKANDALOZNO: Odbojkašice BiH neće igrati kvalifikacije za Euro". www.oslobodjenje.ba. August 20, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Novi šamar bh. sportu: Ženska odbojkaška reprezentacija BiH otkazala kvalifikacije za Evropsko prvenstvo!". Raport.ba - Najnovije vijesti. August 19, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Sport1 - Fatić za Sport1: Milutin Popović je sve zloupotrijebio". www.oslobodjenje.ba. August 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Sport1 - Plašim se da nema lijeka za našu odbojku". www.oslobodjenje.ba. June 21, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Odbojkaški savez BiH uputio demant: Izmišljeni podaci plasirani sa određenom namjenom" (in Bosnian). 2023-08-28. Archived from the original on 2024-09-15. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
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