Five leading European teams are poised to contend for the coveted 2025 FIVB Women`s Volleyball Nations League title. The highly anticipated final round of the competition is set to commence on Wednesday, July 23rd, at the iconic Atlas Arena in Łódź, Poland.
Italy, the current reigning champions, stands out as the sole undefeated team heading into the finals. They are on a quest for their third VNL title, a victory that would elevate them to the status of the joint most decorated team in the competition`s history, alongside the United States of America, who previously secured gold medals in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
A total of eight teams have successfully advanced to the quarter-finals. Italy, maintaining an impeccable 100% winning record and having conceded only seven sets across 12 matches, faces a thrilling encounter against the United States, who qualified with a record of seven wins and five losses. These two volleyball giants previously met in the opening match of this tournament, where Italy showcased a dominant performance, securing a straight-sets victory with scores of 25:13, 25:13, and a tightly contested 30:28.
The Italian squad has demonstrated exceptional versatility and considerable depth, with star players like Paola Egonu (171 points), Sarah Fahr (116 points), and Ekaterina Antropova (109 points) consistently delivering stellar performances on the court. As reigning Olympic champions, this remarkable generation of players is determined to add yet another significant piece of silverware to their already impressive collection.
Hosts Poland, who earned bronze medals in both the 2023 and 2024 editions, are eager to create more history on their home turf and secure another podium finish. They concluded the preliminary round in a strong fourth place, boasting nine wins against three losses. Two of these losses occurred in the final week against formidable opponents Brazil and Japan.
In the quarter-finals, Poland will face the People’s Republic of China. This European team previously defeated China 3:1 (25:22; 20:25; 25:19; 25:21) during Week 1 of the preliminary round in China, setting the stage for an intriguing rematch.
The 2023 champions, Türkiye, finished sixth in the preliminary round. Coach Daniele Santarelli’s side is focused on returning to the top, especially now that key player Melissa Vargas has rejoined the team in the latter weeks of the preliminary phase. Türkiye’s opponents in the quarter-finals will be Japan, the runners-up from 2024. Interestingly, these two strong teams did not cross paths during the preliminary round, making their upcoming match a fresh and exciting contest.
Germany is the final European contingent to secure a spot in the quarter-finals, marking only their second appearance at this stage of the competition after finishing eighth in 2023. A commendable performance in the preliminary round, including crucial victories over Canada (3:2), Thailand (3:0), and the Dominican Republic (3:1), helped them clinch a place among the top eight teams this season. They finished the round with a solid record of seven wins and five losses.
However, Germany faces a monumental task ahead, as they are set to confront Brazil, a team that has been dominant, winning 11 out of their 12 matches so far. In their previous preliminary round encounter, Brazil secured a hard-fought 3:2 victory against Germany, despite Germany initially holding a 2:1 lead before dropping the final two sets with scores of 20:25 and 8:15.
The quarter-final clashes featuring Italy vs. USA and Poland vs. China are scheduled to electrify fans on July 23rd. The remaining two quarter-finals will follow on July 24th. The semi-finals are slated for July 26th, culminating in the medal matches and the crowning of the 2025 VNL champions on July 27th.
Finley Blackwood 
Jasper Thornfield