Italy, Brazil, China and Turkiye Set for VNL 2026 Semifinal Showdowns

Posted : 25 July 2026

The 2026 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League Finals continue in Macao on Saturday with two blockbuster semifinal clashes that will determine the teams competing for the championship on Sunday.

Defending champions Italy will face Brazil in the opening semifinal before hosts China take on Turkiye in another highly anticipated contest.

Italy enter the match as the reigning two-time VNL champions, as well as the current Olympic and world champions. The Italians finished second in the preliminary standings with a 10-2 record and 28 points before comfortably defeating the Netherlands in straight sets to reach the last four.

Brazil also arrive in strong form after overcoming Japan in four sets in the quarterfinals despite dropping the opening set. The South Americans completed the preliminary phase with a 9-3 record and have finished as VNL runners-up on three occasions, including in 2025.

The rivalry between Italy and Brazil has been one of the closest in international volleyball. The teams have shared 10 previous VNL meetings, winning five matches each. Brazil claimed a dramatic five-set victory over Italy during this year's preliminary phase, ending Italy's remarkable 39-match international winning streak.

The second semifinal features hosts China against 2023 champions Turkiye in another contest expected to be closely fought.

Turkiye advanced after coming from behind to defeat Canada 3-1 in the quarterfinals. The victory lifted the European side to third in the latest FIVB World Rankings, moving ahead of the United States. Turkiye are competing in their sixth VNL semifinal and return to the final four after missing out over the past two seasons.

China booked their semifinal place with one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, defeating preliminary phase winners and world leaders United States in a thrilling five-set quarterfinal. The hosts qualified automatically for the Finals and are now back in the semifinals for the first time since 2023.

The recent meetings between China and Turkiye suggest another close battle. Turkiye lead the overall VNL head-to-head record 6-4, but each of the last four encounters has gone the full five sets. Their most recent meeting during the 2026 preliminary phase also required a deciding set before Turkiye emerged victorious.

Away from the action on the court, Volleyball World and sports flooring specialist Gerflor have unveiled a bespoke playing surface for the VNL Finals. It is the first time the competition's decisive matches will feature a dedicated court design, creating a unique visual identity distinct from the preliminary phase.

The new court follows a record-breaking 2025 VNL season, which attracted a cumulative global audience of 1.72 billion viewers across 80 territories. Volleyball World and Gerflor say the redesigned surface will enhance both the in-arena atmosphere and the broadcast presentation while maintaining the highest performance standards for players.

With four of the world's leading volleyball nations remaining in contention and a new-look Finals stage unveiled, the 2026 VNL Finals are set for an exciting conclusion in Macao.

Italy, Brazil, China and Turkiye Set for VNL 2026 Semifinal Showdowns

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