Following the completion of the qualification rounds held last weekend, the seven teams joining hosts the Netherlands for next year`s #EuroVolleyU22W Final Round have been determined. This marks the third edition of the continental championship specifically for this age group. The tournament is scheduled for July 2026 in The Hague and will feature eight teams. The format includes a pool phase, semifinals, and medal matches.
The winners of the five pools – Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Türkiye, and Serbia – advanced directly to the final stage. They are joined by the two best teams who finished second across all five pools: Spain and Portugal. As the qualifiers featured a varying number of teams in the groups (from three to four), to determine the best second-placed teams, the results of matches against the teams finishing last in the groups of four were discarded to equalize the number of games for comparison.
Italy, Ukraine, and Türkiye lost only one set in their respective groups. Serbia faced a tougher path in Pool E, where they defeated Croatia 3-2, Luxembourg 3-0, and hosts Bulgaria 3-1. Poland was the only pool winner not to lose a single set, although they also benefited from Israel`s withdrawal. Playing at home in Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain confidently defeated both Norway and Ireland 3-0 and took one set from Türkiye, becoming the best team among the runners-up. Portugal achieved the same result by taking one set in their match against Pool A winners, Italy.
Next year`s tournament in the Netherlands will crown the 2026 U22 Women`s European Champions. The Italian team has a perfect record in this tournament, having won gold in both 2022 and 2024.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood