2026 FIVB Men's Club World Championship: 8 teams from 4 continents to compete in Poland

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has officially announced the list of eight teams participating in the 2026 Men's Club World Championship, scheduled to take place in Poland. The event brings together continental champions and emerging teams, promising fierce competition on European soil. Defending champion Sir Safety Perugia (Italy) returns as the highest-rated team. Perugia's roster boasts international stars such as Oleh Plotnytskyi and Simone Giannelli, who helped the team achieve a double of Serie A and CEV Champions League titles last season. Not only experienced, Perugia also shows superior squad depth compared to the rest. South American representative Sada Cruzeiro (Brazil) is the most decorated team with five world titles. Although no longer at the peak of form as in 2026-2026, Cruzeiro remains a strong contender thanks to their disciplined play and match composure. Fellow Brazilian Vôlei Renata also participates, forming a strong Brazilian pair. The biggest surprise comes from Asia. Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (Indonesia) makes its debut after winning the AVC Men's Champions League – a historic milestone for Indonesian volleyball. Foolad Sirjan (Iran) also joins, representing the promising West Asian volleyball. However, both teams are newcomers at this level and will face significant challenges in experience and physical condition due to long travel. Africa is represented by Al Ahly (Egypt), the CAVB Club Championship winner, a traditional team but never reaching the semifinals of the world tournament. Turkey joins with Ziraat Bank Ankara, the team that qualified for the first time after winning the CEV Cup – an impressive achievement for Turkish volleyball. Poland hosts both 2026 and 2027, marking a long-term partnership between FIVB and the Polish volleyball federation. Specific venues and detailed schedules will be announced later. Hosting in Poland gives European teams (Perugia, Ziraat) travel advantages, while Asian, African, and South American representatives face long journeys and time zone differences, potentially affecting performance. Tactically, the tournament is expected to adopt a group stage format with two groups of four, followed by semifinals and final. This format usually favors teams with squad depth and quick adaptability. Perugia with its balanced star power is considered the number one candidate, but Sada Cruzeiro can certainly surprise if they exploit gaps in opponents' defensive systems. The highlight of the tournament is the clash between different volleyball schools. Perugia represents the European-American power game with powerful spikes from Plotnytskyi. Sada Cruzeiro brings Brazilian balance between attack and defense. Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi and Foolad Sirjan showcase the fast, technical play typical of Asia. Al Ahly represents physically strong African volleyball. This diversity creates unpredictable matches where tactical and psychological factors are decisive. The biggest risk comes from the gap in experience between teams. Perugia and Sada Cruzeiro are accustomed to the top level, while Jakarta, Ziraat, and Al Ahly lack experience at the world club level. If the new teams fail to adapt to the pace and pressure, the tournament could become a walkover for the giants. However, the history of the tournament has seen surprises, such as when Sada Cruzeiro lost to Trentino in 2026 – a reminder that volleyball never lacks drama. Commercially, the 2026 tournament promises to attract large television audiences thanks to the participation of many countries. FIVB is striving to expand the global influence of club volleyball, and choosing Poland – a country with a strong volleyball culture – as host is a sensible strategy. New teams like Jakarta and Ziraat offer opportunities to reach Southeast Asian and Turkish markets, where volleyball is increasingly popular. Overall, the list of eight teams reflects the panorama of men's world volleyball: the dominance of European and South American clubs, and the rise of Asia and Africa. To compete fairly, new teams need to invest more in physical conditioning and tactics, especially the ability to handle pressure in decisive moments. The 2026 tournament will be a crucial test for FIVB's globalization ambitions. Details on tickets, match schedules, and possible additional teams will be announced later. Vietnamese volleyball fans can watch the matches live via international sports channels. Hopefully, the tournament will bring top-level performances, contributing to the development of the sport worldwide.