2026 Men's European Volleyball Championship qualification
This article describes the qualification for the 2026 Men's European Volleyball Championship.[1]
Qualification
[edit]Bulgaria, Finland, Italy and Romania 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 qualification | Qualifier | Means of qualification | Qualifier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host countries |  Bulgaria |
Qualification | Pool A | |
 Finland |
Pool B | |||
 Italy |
Pool C | |||
 Romania |
Pool D | |||
| 2023 European Championship |  Poland |
Pool E | ||
 Slovenia |
Pool F | |||
 France |
Pool G | |||
 Netherlands |
Best runners-up | |||
 Serbia |
||||
 Ukraine |
||||
 Germany |
||||
 Portugal |
||||
| Total 24 | ||||
Direct qualification
[edit]All of the host countries' teams directly qualified for the tournament. Then, the top eight teams from previous edition also automatically qualified.
- 2023 Men's European Volleyball Championship final standings
| Qualified for the 2026 European Championship | |
| Qualified as hosts for the 2026 European Championship |
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
|
Poland
|
|
Italy
|
|
Slovenia
|
| 4 | France
|
| 5 | Netherlands
|
| 6 | Serbia
|
| 7 | Romania
|
| 8 | Ukraine
|
| 9 | Germany
|
| 10 | Portugal
|
| 11 |  Croatia
|
| 12 |  Czech Republic
|
| 13 |  Turkey
|
| 14 |  Belgium
|
| 15 | Bulgaria
|
| 16 |  North Macedonia
|
| 17 |  Spain
|
| 18 |  Israel
|
| 19 |  Montenegro
|
| 20 |  Estonia
|
| 21 | Finland
|
| 22 |  Greece
|
| 23 |  Switzerland
|
| 24 |  Denmark
|
Format
[edit]There are seven pools of three teams each; the winners of each pool and the best five runners-up will qualify for the 2026 European Championship. The pools are played in a double round-robin.
Schedule
[edit]| Original schedule[1] | |
|---|---|
| Round | Round date |
| Matchday 1 | 17/18 August 2024 |
| Matchday 2 | 24/25 August 2024 |
| Matchday 3 | 31 August–1 September 2024 |
| Matchday 4 | 14/15 June 2025 |
| Matchday 5 | 21/22 June 2025 |
| Matchday 6 | 28/29 June 2025 |
The dates were updated to adapt to the new FIVB calendar.
| Round | Round date[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 17/18 August 2024 |
| Matchday 2 | 24/25 August 2024 |
| Matchday 3 | 28/29 August 2024 |
| Matchday 4 | 9/10 August 2025 |
| Matchday 5 | 13 August 2025 |
| Matchday 6 | 16/17 August 2025 |
Pools composition
[edit]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 parentheses.[1]
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D | Pool E | Pool F | Pool G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey (8)
|
Belgium (11)
|
Czech Republic (13)
|
Croatia (16)
|
Spain (17)
|
Greece (18)
|
 Slovakia (19)
|
| Denmark (27)
|
 Azerbaijan (26)
|
Montenegro (24)
|
Estonia (23)
|
Switzerland (22)
|
North Macedonia (21)
|
 Latvia (20)
|
 Hungary (28)
|
 Austria (29)
|
 Norway (31)
|
Israel (34)
|
 Sweden (35)
|
 Georgia (37)
|
 Kosovo (NR)
|
Pool standing procedure
[edit]- Number of matches won
- Match points
- Sets ratio
- Points ratio
- 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
[edit]- The winners in each pool and the top five of the second-ranked teams will qualify for the 2026 European Championship.
Pool A
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 152 | 122 | 1.246 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | Turkey
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 146 | 115 | 1.270 | 2026 European Championship if one of five best second-ranked team |
| 3 | Hungary
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 89 | 150 | 0.593 |
Source: CEV
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2024 | 18:30 | Hungary |
0–3 | Denmark |
13–25 | 20–25 | 18–25 | 51–75 | Report | ||
| 25 Aug 2024 | 16:00 | Denmark |
3–0 | Turkey |
25–23 | 25–23 | 27–25 | 77–71 | Report | ||
| 29 Aug 2024 | 18:00 | Turkey |
3–0 | Hungary |
25–11 | 25–10 | 25–17 | 75–38 | Report | ||
| Hungary |
– | Turkey |
|||||||||
| Denmark |
– | Hungary |
|||||||||
| Turkey |
– | Denmark |
Pool B
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 150 | 102 | 1.471 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | Austria
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 129 | 128 | 1.008 | 2026 European Championship if one of five best second-ranked team |
| 3 | Azerbaijan
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 101 | 150 | 0.673 |
Source: CEV
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2024 | 20:30 | Austria |
3–0 | Azerbaijan |
25–16 | 25–23 | 25–14 | 75–53 | Report | ||
| 24 Aug 2024 | 16:00 | Azerbaijan |
0–3 | Belgium |
17–25 | 12–25 | 19–25 | 48–75 | Report | ||
| 28 Aug 2024 | 18:00 | Belgium |
3–0 | Austria |
25–19 | 25–14 | 25–21 | 75–54 | Report | ||
| Austria |
– | Belgium |
|||||||||
| Azerbaijan |
– | Austria |
|||||||||
| Belgium |
– | Azerbaijan |
Pool C
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Czech Republic
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | 170 | 137 | 1.241 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | Norway
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 129 | 140 | 0.921 | 2026 European Championship if one of five best second-ranked team |
| 3 | Montenegro
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | 151 | 173 | 0.873 |
Source: CEV
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 2024 | 14:30 | Norway |
3–0 | Montenegro |
25–19 | 28–26 | 25–20 | 78–65 | Report | ||
| 24 Aug 2024 | 18:00 | Montenegro |
1–3 | Czech Republic |
25–20 | 18–25 | 22–25 | 21–25 | 86–95 | Report | |
| 29 Aug 2024 | 17:00 | Czech Republic |
3–0 | Norway |
25–17 | 25–14 | 25–20 | 75–51 | Report | ||
| Norway |
– | Czech Republic |
|||||||||
| Montenegro |
– | Norway |
|||||||||
| Czech Republic |
– | Montenegro |
Pool D
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estonia
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | 170 | 146 | 1.164 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | Israel
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 | 187 | 187 | 1.000 | 2026 European Championship if one of five best second-ranked team |
| 3 | Croatia
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | 149 | 173 | 0.861 |
Source: CEV
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2024 | 19:00 | Estonia |
3–1 | Israel |
26–24 | 25–22 | 19–25 | 25–18 | 95–89 | Report | |
| 21 Aug 2024 | 18:00 | Croatia |
1–3 | Israel |
22–25 | 25–23 | 22–25 | 23–25 | 92–98 | Report | |
| 24 Aug 2024 | 16:00 | Estonia |
3–0 | Croatia |
25–16 | 25–19 | 25–22 | 75–57 | Report | ||
| Israel |
– | Estonia |
|||||||||
| Israel |
– | Croatia |
|||||||||
| Croatia |
– | Estonia |
Pool E
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1.500 | 206 | 199 | 1.035 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | Sweden
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1.667 | 176 | 160 | 1.100 | 2026 European Championship if one of five best second-ranked team |
| 3 | Spain
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.333 | 98 | 106 | 0.925 |
Source: CEV
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2024 | 18:05 | Sweden |
2–3 | Switzerland |
25–15 | 25–20 | 21–25 | 19–25 | 11–15 | 101–100 | Report |
| 25 Aug 2024 | 17:00 | Switzerland |
3–2 | Spain |
25–16 | 25–23 | 19–25 | 22–25 | 15–9 | 106–98 | Report |
| 28 Aug 2024 | 20:00 | Spain |
0–3 | Sweden |
21–25 | 20–25 | 19–25 | 60–75 | Report | ||
| Sweden |
– | Spain |
|||||||||
| Switzerland |
– | Sweden |
|||||||||
| Spain |
– | Switzerland |
Pool F
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greece
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | 165 | 124 | 1.331 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | North Macedonia
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 161 | 134 | 1.201 | 2026 European Championship if one of five best second-ranked team |
| 3 | Georgia
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 82 | 150 | 0.547 |
Source: CEV
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2024 | 16:00 | Georgia |
0–3 | North Macedonia |
12–25 | 14–25 | 18–25 | 44–75 | Report | ||
| 25 Aug 2024 | 20:15 | North Macedonia |
1–3 | Greece |
25–15 | 18–25 | 23–25 | 20–25 | 86–90 | Report | |
| 29 Aug 2024 | 20:30 | Greece |
3–0 | Georgia |
25–14 | 25–8 | 25–16 | 75–38 | Report | ||
| Georgia |
– | Greece |
|||||||||
| North Macedonia |
– | Greece |
|||||||||
| Greece |
– | North Macedonia |
Pool G
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latvia
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | 172 | 143 | 1.203 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | Slovakia
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 168 | 141 | 1.191 | 2026 European Championship if one of five best second-ranked team |
| 3 | Kosovo
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 94 | 150 | 0.627 |
Source: CEV
| Date | Time | Score | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2024 | 17:00 | Kosovo |
0–3 | Latvia |
14–25 | 19–25 | 17–25 | 50–75 | Report | ||
| 25 Aug 2024 | 17:15 | Latvia |
3–1 | Slovakia |
25–23 | 21–25 | 26–24 | 25–21 | 97–93 | Report | |
| 28 Aug 2024 | 18:00 | Slovakia |
3–0 | Kosovo |
25–21 | 25–14 | 25–9 | 75–44 | Report | ||
| Kosovo |
– | Slovakia |
|||||||||
| Latvia |
– | Kosovo |
|||||||||
| Slovakia |
– | Latvia |
Ranking of the second-placed teams
[edit]- The top five of the second-placed teams will qualify for the 2026 European Championship.
| Pos | Pool | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Sweden
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1.667 | 176 | 160 | 1.100 | 2026 European Championship |
| 2 | F | North Macedonia
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 161 | 134 | 1.201 | |
| 3 | G | Slovakia
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 168 | 141 | 1.191 | |
| 4 | A | Turkey
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 146 | 115 | 1.270 | |
| 5 | B | Austria
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 129 | 128 | 1.008 | |
| 6 | D | Israel
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 | 187 | 187 | 1.000 | |
| 7 | C | Norway
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 129 | 140 | 0.921 |
Source: [citation needed]