Five formidable European teams are set to compete for the prestigious 2025 FIVB Women`s Volleyball Nations League title. The final round of this thrilling competition is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 23, hosted at the renowned Atlas Arena in Łódź, Poland.
Italy`s Unbeaten Streak and Quarter-Final Challenge
So far, only one team remains undefeated: the reigning champions, Italy. They are pursuing their third VNL title, aiming to become the joint most decorated team in the competition`s history. This record is currently held by the United States of America, who secured gold medals in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Among the eight teams that have advanced to the quarter-finals, Italy stands out with a flawless winning record, having lost only seven sets across 12 matches. Their path to the title will involve a highly anticipated encounter against the United States of America, a team that has achieved seven wins and five losses so far.
These two nations previously met earlier in this edition of the tournament, where Italy decisively outplayed their opponents, securing a straight-sets victory with scores of 25:13, 25:13, and 30:28. The Italian squad has demonstrated remarkable versatility and depth, with standout performances from players like Paola Egonu (171 points), Sarah Fahr (116 points), and Ekaterina Antropova (109 points). This exceptional generation of reigning Olympic champions is determined to add another piece of silverware to their impressive collection.
Poland`s Home Pursuit and Other European Aspirants
Poland, who earned bronze medals in both 2023 and 2024, will be looking to make history on their home court and secure another podium finish. They concluded the preliminary round in fourth place with nine wins and three losses; their only recent defeats came against strong teams like Brazil and Japan.
Poland is set to face the People’s Republic of China in the quarter-finals. The European side previously defeated China 3:1 (25:22; 20:25; 25:19; 25:21) during their Week 1 match held in China.
The 2023 champions, Türkiye, finished sixth in the preliminary round. Coach Daniele Santarelli’s team aims to reclaim the top spot, especially with the timely return of star player Melissa Vargas in the latter stages of the preliminary round. Their quarter-final opponents will be Japan, the runners-up from 2024; interestingly, these two teams did not meet during the preliminary round.
The final European team to qualify for the quarter-finals is Germany, marking their second appearance in this stage of the competition, following an eighth-place finish in 2023. A strong finish in the preliminary round, which included victories over Canada (3:2), Thailand (3:0), and the Dominican Republic (3:1), helped them secure a spot among the top eight sides this year. They ended the round with seven wins and five losses.
However, Germany faces a significant challenge as they are drawn against Brazil, a team with an outstanding record of 11 wins out of 12 matches. In their preliminary round clash, Brazil managed a hard-fought 3:2 victory, overcoming a 2:1 lead held by Germany before winning the final two sets 20:25 and 8:15.
Tournament Schedule Overview
The quarter-final matches between Italy vs. USA and Poland vs. China are scheduled for July 23. The remaining two quarter-finals will take place on July 24. The highly anticipated semi-finals are set for July 26, with the medal ceremonies concluding the tournament on July 27.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood