2026 Women's European Volleyball Championship qualification

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

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 qualification Qualifier Means of qualification Qualifier
Host Countries  Azerbaijan Qualification Pool A  Germany
 Czech Republic Pool B  Belgium
 Sweden Pool C  Slovenia
 Turkey Pool D  Montenegro
2023 European Championship  Serbia Pool E  Spain
 Netherlands Pool F  Greece
 Italy Pool G  Croatia
 Poland Best runners-up  Romania
 France  Hungary
 Bulgaria  Portugal
 Ukraine  Latvia
 Slovakia  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
Rank Team
1st place, gold medalist(s)  Turkey
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Serbia
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Netherlands
4  Italy
5  Poland
6  France
7  Bulgaria
8  Czech Republic
9  Ukraine
10  Slovakia
11  Romania
12  Germany
13  Spain
14   Switzerland
15  Belgium
16  Sweden
17  Azerbaijan
18 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
19  Greece
20  Slovenia
21  Finland
22  Croatia
23  Estonia
24  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.

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 2/3 August 2025
Matchday 5 6 August 2025
Matchday 6 9/10 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 A Pool B Pool C Pool D Pool E Pool F Pool G
 Germany (6)  Belgium (10)  Slovenia (13)  Bosnia and Herzegovina (15)  Spain (16)  Greece (17)  Romania (18)
  Switzerland (26)  Hungary (25)  Israel (24)  Montenegro (23)  Portugal (22)  Austria (21)  Croatia (19)
 Finland (27)  Denmark (28)  Estonia (29)  Latvia (31)  Georgia (32)  North Macedonia (33)  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

  • The winners in each pool and the top five of the second ranked teams qualified for the 2026 European Championship.

Pool A

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Germany 4 3 1 9 10 3 3.333 327 257 1.272 2026 European Championship
2  Finland 4 2 2 6 8 9 0.889 368 367 1.003
3   Switzerland 4 1 3 3 5 11 0.455 310 381 0.814
Source: CEV
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
18 Aug 2024 15:00 Finland  2–3   Switzerland 25–18 26–28 23–25 25–17 12–15 111–103 Report
24 Aug 2024 17:00 Switzerland  0–3  Germany 36–38 18–25 9–25     63–88 Report
29 Aug 2024 18:00 Germany  3–0  Finland 25–20 25–20 25–15     75–55 Report
2 Aug 2025 14:00 Finland  3–1  Germany 25–21 25–18 18–25 27–25   95–89 Report
6 Aug 2025 19:00 Germany  3–0   Switzerland 25–10 25–17 25–17     75–44 Report
10 Aug 2025 16:00 Switzerland  2–3  Finland 25–19 15–25 21–25 25–22 14–16 100–107 Report

Pool B

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Belgium 4 3 1 9 9 3 3.000 286 241 1.187 2026 European Championship
2  Hungary 4 3 1 8 9 5 1.800 310 273 1.136
3  Denmark 4 0 4 1 2 12 0.167 252 334 0.754
Source: CEV
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
17 Aug 2024 19:00 Denmark  2–3  Hungary 28–26 18–25 25–17 16–25 9–15 96–108 Report
24 Aug 2024 18:30 Hungary  3–0  Belgium 25–22 25–18 25–20     75–60 Report
28 Aug 2024 20:30 Belgium  3–0  Denmark 25–19 25–17 25–23     75–59 Report
3 Aug 2025 17:00 Denmark  0–3  Belgium 16–25 24–26 15–25     55–76 Report
6 Aug 2025 20:00 Belgium  3–0  Hungary 25–13 25–19 25–20     75–52 Report
10 Aug 2025 18:00 Hungary  3–0  Denmark 25–13 25–14 25–15     75–42 Report

Pool C

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Slovenia 4 4 0 12 12 0 MAX 300 195 1.538 2026 European Championship
2  Israel 4 2 2 6 6 7 0.857 266 293 0.908
3  Estonia 4 0 4 0 1 12 0.083 240 318 0.755
Source: CEV
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
17 Aug 2024 16:00 Estonia  1–3  Israel 23–25 18–25 25–18 21–25   87–93 Report
27 Aug 2024 19:00 Slovenia  3–0  Israel 25–19 25–13 25–15     75–47 Report
29 Aug 2024 19:00 Slovenia  3–0  Estonia 25–21 25–16 25–17     75–54 Report
2 Aug 2025 17:00 Estonia  0–3  Slovenia 10–25 16–25 17–25     43–75 Report
6 Aug 2025 20:00 Israel  0–3  Slovenia 18–25 17–25 16–25     51–75 Report
9 Aug 2025 20:00 Israel  3–0  Estonia 25–18 25–23 25–15     75–56 Report

Pool D

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Montenegro 4 3 1 10 11 4 2.750 350 264 1.326 2026 European Championship
2  Latvia 4 2 2 6 9 8 1.125 381 310 1.229
3  Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 1 3 2 3 11 0.273 176 333 0.529
Source: CEV
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
17 Aug 2024 16:15 Latvia  3–2  Montenegro 26–24 25–19 24–26 23–25 15–9 113–103 Report
25 Aug 2024 20:00 Montenegro  3–0  Bosnia and Herzegovina 25–0 25–0 25–0     75–0 Report
28 Aug 2024 20:15 Bosnia and Herzegovina  0–3  Latvia 0–25 0–25 0–25     0–75 Report
2 Aug 2025 20:00 Latvia  2–3  Bosnia and Herzegovina 25–23 19–25 25–23 24–26 13–15 106–112 Report
6 Aug 2025 19:30 Bosnia and Herzegovina  0–3  Montenegro 24–26 16–25 24–26     64–77 Report
10 Aug 2025 19:00 Montenegro  3–1  Latvia 20–25 25–20 25–23 25–19   95–87 Report

Pool E

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Spain 4 4 0 11 12 2 6.000 333 236 1.411 2026 European Championship
2  Portugal 4 2 2 7 8 6 1.333 309 287 1.077
3  Georgia 4 0 4 0 0 12 0.000 181 300 0.603
Source: CEV
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
17 Aug 2024 19:00 Georgia  0–3  Portugal 23–25 18–25 21–25     62–75 Report
25 Aug 2024 17:00 Portugal  0–3  Spain 20–25 22–25 21–25     63–75 Report
28 Aug 2024 17:00 Spain  3–0  Georgia 25–9 25–8 25–12     75–29 Report
2 Aug 2025 19:00 Georgia  0–3  Spain 19–25 14–25 15–25     48–75 Report
6 Aug 2025 19:30 Spain  3–2  Portugal 25–18 20–25 25–20 23–25 15–8 108–96 Report
10 Aug 2025 17:00 Portugal  3–0  Georgia 25–8 25–16 25–18     75–42 Report

Pool F

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Greece 4 4 0 12 12 1 12.000 318 204 1.559 2026 European Championship
2  Austria 4 2 2 6 7 6 1.167 283 271 1.044
3  North Macedonia 4 0 4 0 0 12 0.000 174 300 0.580
Source: CEV
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
17 Aug 2024 20:15 North Macedonia  0–3  Austria 14–25 17–25 20–25     51–75 Report
25 Aug 2024 20:20 Austria  0–3  Greece 18–25 20–25 23–25     61–75 Report
28 Aug 2024 20:30 Greece  3–0  North Macedonia 25–8 25–14 25–11     75–33 Report
3 Aug 2025 20:00 North Macedonia  0–3  Greece 8–25 11–25 19–25     38–75 Report
6 Aug 2025 20:00 Greece  3–1  Austria 25–19 25–14 18–25 25–14   93–72 Report
9 Aug 2025 17:35 Austria  3–0  North Macedonia 25–19 25–23 25–10     75–52 Report

Pool G

Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Croatia 4 3 1 9 10 3 3.333 313 227 1.379 2026 European Championship
2  Romania 4 3 1 9 9 4 2.250 303 254 1.193
3  Kosovo 4 0 4 0 0 12 0.000 165 300 0.550
Source: CEV
Date Time Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total Report
17 Aug 2024 20:00 Kosovo  0–3  Croatia 16–25 18–25 9–25     43–75 Report
24 Aug 2024 18:00 Croatia  3–0  Romania 25–19 25–14 25–22     75–55 Report
29 Aug 2024 18:00 Romania  3–0  Kosovo 25–13 25–16 25–14     75–43 Report
2 Aug 2025 20:30 Kosovo  0–3  Romania 12–25 20–25 16–25     48–75 Report
6 Aug 2025 18:00 Romania  3–1  Croatia 22–25 25–21 26–24 25–18   98–88 Report
9 Aug 2025 19:00 Croatia  3–0  Kosovo 25–8 25–12 25–11     75–31 Report

Ranking of the second placed teams

  • The top five of the second placed teams qualified for the 2026 European Championship.
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Romania 4 3 1 9 9 4 2.250 303 254 1.193 2026 European Championship
2  Hungary 4 3 1 8 9 5 1.800 310 273 1.136
3  Portugal 4 2 2 7 8 6 1.333 309 287 1.077
4  Latvia 4 2 2 6 9 8 1.125 381 310 1.229
5  Austria 4 2 2 6 7 6 1.167 283 271 1.044
6  Finland 4 2 2 6 8 9 0.889 368 367 1.003
7  Israel 4 2 2 6 6 7 0.857 266 293 0.908
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. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c "Sport1 - SKANDALOZNO: Odbojkašice BiH neće igrati kvalifikacije za Euro". www.oslobodjenje.ba. August 20, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Novi šamar bh. sportu: Ženska odbojkaška reprezentacija BiH otkazala kvalifikacije za Evropsko prvenstvo!". Raport.ba - Najnovije vijesti. August 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "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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