(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Belgium Qualifies for 2026 Men’s Volleyball Nations League After Historic Ranking Rise
Belgium’s men’s national volleyball team will make its long-awaited debut in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in 2026, as confirmed by their national federation. This marks a major milestone for Belgian volleyball, with both the men’s and women’s teams now set to compete in the world’s premier annual volleyball competition.
Belgium Earns Spot Through FIVB World Ranking
Belgium secured their spot as the highest-ranked non-VNL team at the end of the 2025 VNL season, with a world ranking score of 183.24, placing them 17th globally. This earned them automatic qualification for VNL 2026, replacing the Netherlands, who finished at the bottom of the 2025 standings and were relegated.
Their closest competitor, Finland, stood at 18th with a score of 178.94, after winning the 2025 CEV European Golden League. Despite Finland’s strong performance, a single loss at home to Greece ultimately cost them critical points—securing Belgium’s place in the Nations League.
Historic Moment for Belgian Volleyball
With this qualification, Belgium achieves a significant feat: both national teams (men’s and women’s) will now participate in the VNL, as the women’s squad had already returned to the competition this season.
The men’s team, known as the Red Dragons, has been steadily climbing in international volleyball. Coached by Italian tactician Emanuele Zanini, the squad includes standout players such as:
-
Sam Deroo
-
Ferre Reggers
-
Stijn D’Hulst
-
Mathijs Desmet
-
Wout D’Heer
Upcoming Matches and Championships
Before their VNL debut in 2026, Belgium will compete in:
-
EuroVolley 2026 qualification matches this month
-
The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, starting September 12 in the Philippines
With this new chapter, Belgian volleyball continues its upward trajectory on the global stage, and fans will be watching closely as the Red Dragons take on top-tier opponents in the upcoming competitions.
SEO Keywords: Belgium Volleyball Nations League 2026, FIVB VNL qualification, Red Dragons volleyball, Belgium men’s volleyball team, Emanuele Zanini coach, Sam Deroo volleyball, Volleyball World Championship 2025, EuroVolley 2026 qualifiers
