While the 2025 CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup Finals take center stage in European beach volleyball this week, numerous teams from the continent, not participating in the Finals, will have a prime opportunity to compete. The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour is set to host a significant Futures tournament in Leuven, Belgium, providing a crucial platform for these athletes over the coming days.
Leuven is proudly hosting international beach volleyball for the fifth consecutive year. Matches will unfold at the vibrant Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein square, running from Friday through Monday. The final day of competition notably coincides with Belgium`s National Day, adding an extra layer of local excitement.
Men`s Tournament Highlights
To further ignite the enthusiasm of home fans, host nation Belgium will have four teams directly seeded into the men`s main draw: Kyan Vercauteren/Joppe Van Langendonck, Louis Vandecaveye/Gilles Vandecaveye, Christophe Witvrouwen/Daan Hendrikx, and Berre Peters/Wout Nuyttens.
Both Vercauteren/Van Langendonck, who secured victory in Qidong, China, last month, and the Vandecaveye brothers, winners in Ios, Greece in June, have already claimed Futures event titles this season, showcasing their strong form.
The event will also feature the presence of two Olympians: Latvia’s Edgar Tocs, a participant in Tokyo 2020, will compete alongside Gustavs Auzins. Poland`s Piotr Kantor, who represented his country at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, will team up with Artem Besarab.
The men’s competition boasts a diverse international field, with representatives from 18 countries:
- Belgium (5 teams)
- Germany (3 teams)
- Poland (3 teams)
- Czechia (2 teams)
- Sweden (2 teams)
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bulgaria
- Estonia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
Women`s Tournament Overview
On the women’s side, Belgium will similarly have four teams guaranteed a spot in the main draw: Youna Coens/Sarah Cools, Lisa Van Den Vonder/Louka Maertens, Jade Van Deun/Lotte De Clercq, and Britt Ruysschaert/Isabel Van den Broeck.
Unlike their successful male counterparts, the Belgian female duos are yet to secure medals on the Beach Pro Tour in 2025. They will be keenly focused on achieving a breakthrough performance in front of their home crowd this week.
The host nation fields the largest contingent among the 28 women`s teams, with five duos competing. They are followed by teams from:
- The Netherlands (4 teams)
- Finland (2 teams)
- Peru (2 teams)
- Poland (2 teams)
- Argentina
- Austria
- Canada
- Czechia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Japan
- Latvia
- Morocco
- Norway
- Slovakia
- The United States
Tournament Schedule
The opening day of the Leuven tournament will feature qualifier matches for both genders. The main draw play is scheduled to begin on Saturday with intense pool competition, progressing to the elimination rounds on Sunday. The culmination of the event, including all semifinals and medal matches, is set for Monday, promising an exciting finale.
These Beach Pro Tour Futures events in Europe are a collaborative effort between the CEV and Volleyball World. They are designed to provide essential competitive experience and opportunities for continental teams to earn valuable international ranking points, fostering the development of beach volleyball talent.
