A Revamped Tournament Promises Action Across the Globe

Volleyball fans around the world can mark their calendars as Volleyball World has officially unveiled the host cities, pools, and ticket information for the highly anticipated Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025. The upcoming edition of the prestigious annual tournament is set to feature a revamped format, promising an even more exciting and engaging experience for both players and spectators. With an expanded number of participating teams and a dynamic preliminary phase, the VNL 2025 is poised to deliver high-octane volleyball action across the globe, culminating in thrilling final showdowns in Poland for the women and China for the men.

The VNL, established in 2018 as a successor to the FIVB World League and FIVB World Grand Prix, has quickly become a cornerstone of the international volleyball calendar. It brings together the top national teams from around the world in a round-robin preliminary phase, followed by a final round to determine the champions. The league not only offers a platform for elite competition but also plays a crucial role in the qualification pathways for major international events such as the Olympic Games and the World Championships.

For the 2025 edition, the VNL will see a significant expansion in the number of participating teams, increasing from 16 to 18 per gender. This expansion welcomes new contenders to the league, with China and Ukraine joining the men’s competition, and the Czech Republic and Belgium entering the women’s bracket. This inclusion of fresh talent and perspectives is expected to inject new dynamism into the tournament and provide opportunities for more nations to compete at the highest level.

The preliminary phase of the VNL 2025 will span three weeks for each gender, with a total of 216 matches scheduled. The revamped format will see teams competing in rotating pools hosted across various cities each week. This structure ensures that fans in different parts of the world get to witness top-level volleyball action live and provides teams with diverse competitive experiences as they navigate different opponents and playing environments.

Women’s Competition: A Global Tour Leading to Łódź

The women’s VNL 2025 will commence from June 4 to June 8, with the opening week’s matches held in three distinct locations: Ottawa, Canada; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Beijing, China. These volleyball powerhouses will set the stage for the tournament, hosting Pool 1, Pool 2, and Pool 3, respectively. Fans in these regions will have the first opportunity to witness the world’s best female volleyball players in action.

Week 1 Pools (June 4-8):

• Pool 1 (Ottawa, Canada): Bulgaria, Canada, Dominican Republic, Japan, Netherlands, Serbia.
• Pool 2 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, South Korea, United States.
• Pool 3 (Beijing, China): Belgium, China, France, Poland, Thailand, Turkey.

The second week of the women’s preliminary phase, from June 18 to June 22, will see the action move to Istanbul, Turkey (Pool 4); Hong Kong, China (Pool 5); and Belgrade, Serbia (Pool 6). These cities, each with a strong volleyball tradition and passionate fanbase, will host crucial matches as teams jostle for position in the league standings.

Week 2 Pools (June 18-22):

• Pool 4 (Istanbul, Turkey): Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, South Korea, Turkey.
• Pool 5 (Hong Kong, China): Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Italy, Japan, Thailand.
• Pool 6 (Belgrade, Serbia): France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, United States.

The final week of the preliminary round for the women, from July 9 to July 13, will take place in Apeldoorn, Netherlands (Pool 7); Arlington, USA (Pool 8); and Kanto, Japan (Pool 9). These matches will be critical in determining the teams that will advance to the final round and compete for the VNL title.

Week 3 Pools (July 9-13):

• Pool 7 (Apeldoorn, Netherlands): Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Turkey.
• Pool 8 (Arlington, USA): Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Germany, Thailand, United States.
• Pool 9 (Kanto, Japan): Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Japan, Poland, South Korea.

The culmination of the women’s VNL 2025 will be the final round, held from July 23 to July 27 in Łódź, Poland. Poland, a nation with a rich history in volleyball and a fervent fanbase, will provide a fitting stage for the top eight teams to battle for the coveted gold medal. The Atlas Arena in Łódź, a renowned venue for major sporting events, is expected to be filled with enthusiastic supporters as the world’s best teams compete for the title.

Men’s Competition: A Transcontinental Journey Leading to Ningbo

The men’s Volleyball Nations League 2025 will kick off from June 11 to June 15, with the first week’s matches hosted in Quebec City, Canada (Pool 1); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Pool 2); and Xi’an, China (Pool 3). Similar to the women’s tournament, these opening week locations represent strongholds of men’s volleyball, promising a thrilling start to the competition.

Week 1 Pools (June 11-15):

• Pool 1 (Quebec City, Canada): Italy, France, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Bulgaria.
• Pool 2 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): Slovenia, United States, Brazil, Cuba, Ukraine, Iran.
• Pool 3 (Xi’an, China): Poland, Japan, Serbia, Netherlands, Turkey, China.

The second week of the men’s preliminary phase, from June 25 to June 29, will see the teams travel to Burgas, Bulgaria (Pool 4); Chicago, USA (Pool 5); and Belgrade, Serbia (Pool 6). These host cities will provide a diverse range of atmospheres and challenges for the participating teams as the competition intensifies.

Week 2 Pools (June 25-29):

• Pool 4 (Burgas, Bulgaria): Japan, France, Slovenia, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria.
• Pool 5 (Chicago, USA): Poland, Italy, United States, Brazil, Canada, China.
• Pool 6 (Belgrade, Serbia): Argentina, Serbia, Germany, Cuba, Netherlands, Iran.

Following the second week of competition, the men’s VNL 2025 will incorporate a new rest week, from June 30 to July 6, to enhance player recovery and preparation for the final stages of the preliminary round. This addition reflects the tournament organizers’ commitment to player welfare and ensuring high-quality performances throughout the competition.

The third and final week of the men’s preliminary matches, from July 15 to July 20, will be held in Gdansk, Poland (Pool 7); Ljubljana, Slovenia (Pool 8); and Kanto, Japan (Pool 9). These final matches will be crucial in determining the composition of the top eight teams that will advance to the final round.

Week 3 Pools (July 15-20):

• Pool 7 (Gdansk, Poland): Poland, France, Cuba, Iran, Bulgaria, China.
• Pool 8 (Ljubljana, Slovenia): Italy, Slovenia, Canada, Serbia, Netherlands, Ukraine.
• Pool 9 (Kanto, Japan): Japan, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Turkey.

The climax of the men’s VNL 2025 will take place from July 30 to August 3 in Ningbo, China. Ningbo, a city with a strong sporting culture and experience in hosting major international volleyball events, will welcome the top eight men’s national teams to compete for the prestigious VNL title at the Ningbo Beilun Sports and Arts Center.

What’s New for VNL 2025: Expansion and Enhanced Format

The 2025 edition of the Volleyball Nations League introduces several key changes designed to enhance the competition and engage a wider global audience:

• Expansion to 18 Teams per Gender: The inclusion of two additional teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions increases the diversity and competitiveness of the league.
• Revamped Preliminary Phase: The three-week preliminary phase, featuring rotating pools across different host cities each week, ensures a dynamic and engaging experience for both teams and fans. Each team will play a total of 12 matches during this phase.
• Increased Recovery Time: The introduction of a rest week for the men’s competition after the second week of preliminary matches prioritizes player welfare and aims to maintain the high level of play throughout the tournament.

These changes underscore Volleyball World’s commitment to the growth and development of international volleyball, providing more opportunities for national teams to compete at the highest level and for fans around the world to witness thrilling matches in person.

Looking Ahead: A Summer of Volleyball Excellence

The Volleyball Nations League 2025 promises to be a spectacular showcase of international volleyball talent. With a new format, expanded participation, and passionate host cities, fans can look forward to a summer filled with thrilling matches, intense rivalries, and unforgettable moments. As the countdown to June begins, anticipation is building for what is set to be the most exciting edition of the VNL yet. Volleyball News will continue to provide comprehensive coverage leading up to and throughout the tournament, keeping fans informed of all the latest developments, team news, and match results. Get ready for a summer of world-class volleyball action!