The highly anticipated drawing of lots for the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Women, marking the 34th edition of Europe`s premier competition, recently took place in a magnificent ceremony at the historic Castello Normanno-Svevo in Bari. This pivotal event revealed the preliminary round opponents for the 24 participating teams, effectively charting their initial course towards the coveted trophy.
The draw has generated considerable excitement, promising a series of captivating matchups and thrilling encounters right from the preliminary stage.
As host nations, Türkiye, Czechia, Azerbaijan, and Sweden were granted the privilege of selecting one opponent to join their respective pools. Türkiye opted to compete against Latvia, Austria was placed in Pool B alongside Czechia, Portugal will challenge Azerbaijan in Pool C, while Sweden chose Montenegro for Pool D.
Preliminary Round Highlights:
Pool A is set to deliver a compelling rematch from the previous edition`s quarter-finals, with co-hosts Türkiye poised to face Poland in Istanbul. Another intriguing clash from 2023 will see Poland go head-to-head with Germany, recalling Poland`s decisive 3:0 victory in the Round of 16. Completing Pool A are Slovenia and Hungary.
In Pool B, which will be contested in Brno, the CEV EuroVolley Women 2023 runners-up, Serbia, join co-hosts Czechia, Austria, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Greece. Serbia enters the competition as a strong favorite to secure the top spot and contend for the championship. Czechia will also be eager to build upon their impressive 2023 campaign, where they reached the quarter-finals before being defeated 1:3 by Serbia.
The Netherlands, who clinched the bronze medal in the 2023 edition, will compete in Pool C alongside Azerbaijan, Portugal, Belgium, Romania, and Spain. Having lost only a single match and dropped just four sets in the previous tournament, the Netherlands will undoubtedly aim to dominate their pool once more, despite facing robust competition.
Reigning world and Olympic champions, Italy, boasting an impressive undefeated streak spanning over a year, have been drawn into Pool D. Here, they will challenge co-hosts Sweden, Montenegro, France, Slovakia, and Croatia. Italy previously showcased their prowess by eliminating France with a commanding 3:0 win in the 2023 quarter-finals. They will be looking to capitalize on their recent stellar form, which includes two gold medals in major international competitions, despite finishing fourth at CEV EuroVolley 2023 Women.
The top four teams from each pool will successfully advance to the Round of 16. Conversely, the last two teams from each pool, totaling eight teams, will face elimination and conclude their tournament journey.
CEV EuroVolley 2026 – Official Pool Draw Results:
- Pool A: Türkiye, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary
- Pool B: Czechia, Austria, Serbia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Greece
- Pool C: Azerbaijan, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Romania, Spain
- Pool D: Sweden, Montenegro, Italy, France, Slovakia, Croatia
