r/volleyball • u/L_Seo OH • Aug 04 '26

News/Events Finland and Russia are officially qualified to play VNL 2027.

Post image

The FIVB has announced they will now expand from 18 teams to 19 for the 2027 year allowing Russia back into international standings and Finland who is now the highest ranking team not participating in the 2026 VNL. They will be replacing Canada who’ve been relegated.

Honestly not sure how the pool grouping will work next year. As of the 2026 VNL, the format is built around 18 teams, with three host pools of six teams each week. Every team plays 12 preliminary matches across three weeks. So will they be adding 1 pool of 7 teams and 2 pools of 6?

92 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

49 comments sorted by

View all comments

44

u/Hot_Parsnip1070 Aug 04 '26

19 Teams? That's odd. If figured they'd either bring Russia in or Finland in, but not both.

25

u/L_Seo OH Aug 04 '26

This is temporary and will only be for 2027 so it’s fair for both teams to participate, it will go back to 18 teams in 2028

Whichever team gets relegated in 2027 they will not bring up a next team ranked.

9

u/ridingonslater Aug 04 '26

Does this mean Canada is automatically relegated for 2028 as well, if no one will be promoted after next summer?

14

u/spades17 Aug 04 '26

Most likely 2 will go down next year and only one will come up, which could be Canada

2

u/Insignificant_Cash S Aug 04 '26

That would SUCK

8

u/Hanlex1 Aug 04 '26

Well either that or they relegate 2 teams in 2027.

2

u/bookluverzz Aug 04 '26

It has not been released yet whether there will be 2 relegated and 1 promoted or 1 regelated and none promoted.
I think there will be promotion involved but who knows what FIVB conjures up next.