FIVB confirms Russia's return to 2027 Volleyball Nations League
Synopsis
Russia is back on the international volleyball calendar — the FIVB has confirmed both national teams will compete in the 2027 VNL, with the field expanding to 19 teams to absorb their return. No current participant loses their place. Meanwhile, Poland underlined their dominance with a five-set comeback title defence against the United States.
Key Takeaways
The FIVB confirmed Russia's men's and women's teams will participate in the 2027 Volleyball Nations League .
The 2027 VNL will expand from 18 to 19 teams ; Slovenia's women and Finland's men retain their spots.
Russia has voluntarily opted out of the 2027 Men's World Cup ; its Women's World Cup participation is still unconfirmed.
Poland defeated the United States 3-2 to retain the 2026 Men's VNL title — their third overall.
Outside hitter Tomasz Fornal was pivotal in Poland's fifth-set comeback, helping build a 13-7 lead.
Slovenia beat Japan 3-1 to claim their first-ever VNL medal after finishing fourth on three previous occasions.
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) confirmed on Tuesday that Russia's men's and women's national teams will compete in the 2027 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), marking a significant step in the country's reintegration into international volleyball following a period of suspension. The announcement was made from Geneva, where the FIVB is headquartered.
FIVB's Roadmap for Russia's Return
'Following its statement issued on 8 July 2026, the FIVB has continued consultations with relevant stakeholders to establish a clear roadmap for the return of Russian athletes and technical officials to World competitions,' the federation said in an official statement.
To accommodate Russia's inclusion, the 2027 VNL will expand from 18 to 19 teams. Crucially, neither Russian team qualified through the standard selection process, and both Slovenia's women's team and Finland's men's team will retain their existing places in the competition — meaning no current participant loses their spot.
World Cup Participation Remains Uncertain
The FIVB also confirmed that Russia has voluntarily opted out of the 2027 Men's World Cup. Its participation in the 2027 Women's World Cup, however, has yet to be confirmed, leaving that question open for further deliberation between the federation and relevant stakeholders.
Poland Retain VNL Title in Five-Set Thriller
World No. 1 Poland delivered a dramatic performance at the 2026 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League Finals on Sunday, rallying from two sets down to defeat the United States 3-2 and claim their third VNL title.
Poland took the opening set 25-21, before the United States fought back to win the next two sets 25-23 and 27-25, putting themselves within one set of the championship. With the title on the line, the fourth set was level at 20-20 before Poland outside hitter Tomasz Fornal delivered a decisive series of serves, helping his side close out the set 25-23 and force a decider.
Poland seized control in the fifth set after the score was tied at 5-5, capitalising on several US attacking errors to build a commanding 13-7 lead. Disciplined defence and effective blocking denied the Americans any route back into the match, and Poland sealed the set 15-10 to complete the comeback.
Slovenia Claim Maiden VNL Medal
In the bronze medal match on the same day, Slovenia ended a run of four consecutive fourth-place finishes to claim their first-ever VNL podium, defeating Japan 3-1 (25-21, 26-28, 25-22, 25-22). The result ends a long wait for a nation that had repeatedly fallen at the final hurdle in previous editions of the tournament.
With Russia's reintegration now underway and the 2027 VNL set to expand, the next edition of the competition is shaping up to be one of the most politically and athletically significant in the tournament's history.
Point of View
Poland's back-to-back VNL titles confirm their status as the dominant force in men's volleyball, but the real story of the 2027 cycle will be whether Russia's return reshapes the competitive and political dynamics of the sport.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Russia returning to the 2027 Volleyball Nations League?
The FIVB confirmed Russia's return following ongoing consultations with stakeholders to establish a roadmap for reintegrating Russian athletes and technical officials into world competitions. The decision was announced on Tuesday, building on a statement the federation issued on 8 July 2026.
Will any existing VNL team lose their place to accommodate Russia?
No. The 2027 VNL will expand from 18 to 19 teams to accommodate Russia's inclusion. Slovenia's women's team and Finland's men's team, which would otherwise have been at risk, will both retain their places in the competition.
Is Russia participating in the 2027 Volleyball World Cups?
Russia has voluntarily chosen not to compete in the 2027 Men's World Cup. Its participation in the 2027 Women's World Cup has not yet been confirmed by the FIVB.
How did Poland win the 2026 Men's VNL title?
Poland defeated the United States 3-2 in the final, rallying from 1-2 down in sets. Outside hitter Tomasz Fornal was key in the fourth set, and Poland dominated the decider 15-10 after building a 13-7 lead. It was Poland's third VNL title overall.
What did Slovenia achieve at the 2026 VNL Finals?
Slovenia won their first-ever VNL medal, defeating Japan 3-1 in the bronze medal match. It ended a run of three fourth-place finishes for the Slovenian side, who had previously been denied a podium place on multiple occasions.
