The second week of the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League is underway, with the competition for places in the final round intensifying. Matches are scheduled across three international locations: Istanbul (Turkey), Hong Kong, and Belgrade (Serbia). Elite volleyball nations will continue to hone their performance in what is proving to be a highly competitive edition of the tournament.
After the initial four matches, only three teams—Italy, Japan, and Türkiye—maintain a perfect record. These leading sides are focused on reinforcing their positions and securing early qualification for the final round. Meanwhile, other European teams are working to rebound after experiencing some challenging losses in the opening week.
Poland, already guaranteed a spot in the final round as the host nation, has already recorded a loss. Their Week 2 schedule includes matches against formidable opponents: the Netherlands, the United States of America, Germany, and Serbia. Italy, aiming to extend their impressive winning streak, will face Bulgaria, Thailand, Japan, and the People’s Republic of China.
A particularly significant match for the Italian team, led by star player Paola Egonu, will be against Japan. Both teams boast perfect records, though Italy has conceded two sets and one point thus far, whereas the Japanese side has not dropped a single set.
Germany (2-2), the Netherlands (2-2), Bulgaria (2-2), and Czechia (2-2) had varied results in the first week. They will need stronger performances in Week 2 to enhance their chances of reaching the final round.
Türkiye, despite having lost five sets, is set to benefit from playing on home soil in Istanbul. Daniele Santarelli’s team will look for wins against the Dominican Republic, Canada, the Republic of Korea, and notably Brazil, aiming to improve their standing in the league table.
The match against Brazil, captained by Gabi Guimaraes, is anticipated to be intense. Guimaraes makes a return to Istanbul, a city she called home for five years during her time playing for VakifBank from 2019 to 2024.
France (1-3), Belgium (1-3), and Serbia (0-4) had difficult starts to the tournament. They must significantly improve their results this week to remain contenders for a final round place, with Serbia facing additional pressure playing in front of their home crowd in Belgrade.
Week 2 of the Nations League promises more high-calibre volleyball action, featuring a mix of global stars and promising new talents. Spectators can expect thrilling matches, potential upsets, and moments of brilliance as the world`s top teams continue their campaign towards the final round, which will be held in Łódź, Poland.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood