Team Portugal: Blending Experience and Youth for a New Era

Portugal`s men`s national volleyball team is embarking on a significant new phase, re-entering top-tier international competitions. Following a strong performance in the recent European Golden League, which saw the rise of a talented new generation, the team is now preparing for the 2025 World Championship in the Philippines and the 2026 CEV EuroVolley. Their aim is to solidify their growing global presence.

Team Portugal combines experience and youth as they are about to make their first World Championship appearance in 23 years.

Marking their return after a 23-year absence, Portugal will participate in their third World Championship, securing direct qualification through their FIVB World Ranking. The tournament is scheduled from September 12 to 28 in Manila, Philippines, with the team`s preparations kicking off on July 28 in Viana do Castelo. Under head coach João José, Portugal is placed in Pool D, where they will compete against Cuba on September 13, the USA on September 15, and Colombia on September 17. Their objective is to secure a top-two finish in the group to advance to the knockout rounds of the expanded 32-team format.

Setter Bruno Dias is among the young players to have left their mark during the European Golden League.

While the 2025 CEV European Golden League didn`t culminate in a Final Four qualification, it proved vital for integrating promising young players into the senior squad. Athletes such as José Pedro Pinto, Nuno Marques, Bruno Dias, and André Pereira showcased remarkable development and maturity, underscoring the team`s successful youth investment strategy.

Further demonstrating their consistent performance, Portugal has also directly qualified for the 2026 CEV EuroVolley. This will be their eighth overall appearance and fourth consecutive participation, a direct result of their 10th-place finish in the 2023 edition. The 2026 EuroVolley will be jointly hosted by Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania.

Team Portugal is already qualified for next year`s EuroVolley as well.

Leveraging the experience from the upcoming World Championship and the solid foundation laid by emerging young talents in the Golden League, the Portuguese team is highly optimistic about its prospects in international volleyball.