Just a year ago, Bulgaria looked like a young and interesting project that still had to prove it belonged among the world's volleyball giants. Today, the situation is radically different.
After an impressive performance at the World Championship and reaching a final few expected, the national team climbed to №9 in the world rankings and for the first time in a long time
The Olympics no longer seem like a distant dream, but a completely realistic goal.
That's why the first Nations League tournament in Brazil might turn out to be much more important than it seems at first glance.

Because:

• Argentina (№8) is a direct competitor to Bulgaria in the battle for Olympic ranking,

• while Belgium (№15), Iran (№16), and Serbia (№13) appear to be an excellent opportunity to accumulate valuable points against not-so-much, but still lower-ranked opponents.

Provided Bulgaria avoids underestimation, such matches can provide an important start in the battle for Olympic points, which will continue through the VNL, Euro 2026, and the World Championship in 2027.

Olympic mathematics begins to work for Bulgaria.

Currently, Bulgaria is №9 in the world and for the first time in years does not seem far from an Olympic quota.

The reason is simple:
several teams ahead of Bulgaria might drop out of the ranking scheme through various lines.

• USA (№5 in the world rankings) are hosts of the Olympics.

• One among Italy (№2), Poland (№1), and France (№4) will almost certainly secure a direct quota as European champion.

As much as Bulgaria might wish to dream of a European title, currently a more realistic strategy seems different.

The first major goal is a strong performance already in the VNL, where every victory brings valuable points for the world ranking and could prove crucial in the Olympic battle.

After that comes the European Championship in 2026, where Bulgaria is co-hosting in Sofia and will play in a preliminary group against:

• North Macedonia (№47),

• Ukraine (№17),

• Portugal (№23),

• Israel (No. 30)
  and Poland (No. 1).

Precisely there, Bulgaria has an excellent opportunity:

• to secure mandatory wins against lower-ranked opponents like North Macedonia, Israel, and Portugal,

• to accumulate valuable points against a direct competitor ranked similarly to Bulgaria, like Ukraine (No. 17),

• and potentially aim for something more against world No. 1 Poland.

Exactly such a group could prove extremely important both for the ranking and for a more favorable path in the European Championship knockout stages.

If the national team then manages to aim for a quarter-final against a powerhouse like Poland and reach the top 4 in Europe, that would already be a huge success and a serious bonus on the way to Los Angeles 2028.

• Japan (No. 7) is the favorite for the Asian quota.

• Canada (No. 10) or Cuba (No. 12) could win NORCECA, especially if the USA sends an experimental squad.

• The South American Championship could also significantly change the picture, because if Brazil (No. 3) or Argentina (No. 8) win the tournament, they will secure a direct Olympic quota and also drop out of the ranking scheme.

This means that five teams from the top 10 could disappear from the ranking calculations.

Precisely for this reason:

• every victory in the VNL,

• a strong performance at the European Championship,

• and a potential deep run at the 2027 World Championship in Poland, where the top three also receive an Olympic quota

could prove decisive for Los Angeles 2028.

Blengini is no longer building a project, but an Olympic team.

This is where the big dilemma regarding the group for Brazil begins.

Because until last year, Blengini could afford:

• experiments,

• broader rotation,

• 'project' players around the team.

But after jumping to No. 9 in the world, the situation is different.

Now:

• every victory matters,

• every loss weighs heavily,

• and every spot in the squad must now directly help in the battle for Olympic points.

The core seems clear

After the VNL 2025, the World Championship, and the last warm-up matches in the 'Silesia Cup', a relatively stable core is now visible.

Setters

• Simeon Nikolov

• Stoil Palev

Here, there is practically no intrigue.

Moni Nikolov is already:

• the leader of the new generation,

• the main architect of the game,

• and the person who completely changes Bulgaria's block scheme with his height of over two meters.

The dilemma: one or two opposite hitters?

At the 'Silesia Cup', Dimitar Dimitrov was often used rotationally in the front row, especially when Stoil Palev was in front.

The reason was obvious:

• height,

• block,

• covering the net.

But the presence of Moni Nikolov seriously changes this necessity.
That is why there is an increasing probability that Bulgaria will start with only one pure opposite.
Currently, Venislav Antov seems to have an advantage:

• better form,

• more trust,

• stronger test matches.

This opens up an opportunity:

• Alexander Nikolov to enter as a second opposite in a more combinative scheme with three receivers, in which all outside hitters actively participate in both reception and attack. This interchangeability makes the opponent's block much more difficult to organize,

• Blengini to free up another spot for an outside hitter.

The fiercest competition is among the receivers.

That is where the most difficult choice lies.

Almost certain seem to be:

• Aleksandar Nikolov

• Asparuh Asparuhov

• Martin Atanasov

• Georgi Tatarov

But the pressure on Tatarov is now real.

Zhasmin Velichkov – the "Superleague" ace

On June 1st, Zhasmin Velichkov will turn just 19 years old, but he already has a season in the Italian Superleague with Monza behind him, and even an MVP award in one of the matches.

And that carries weight.

Because:

• The Superleague is the strongest championship in the world,

• the tempo is different,

• the serve is different,

• and the blocks are world-class.

Bardarov – the physique of modern volleyball

Denislav Bardarov comes after a strong season in Turkey and brings a completely different profile:

• more physique,

• more power,

• a heavier serve,

• a higher offensive ceiling.

This is precisely the profile that modern volleyball increasingly demands against teams like:

• Poland,

• France,

• Italy.

Tatarov remains the "glue"

Despite the competition, Georgi Tatarov continues to be of immense value to Blengini.
These are precisely the players Italian coaches prefer:

• stable,

• disciplined,

• tactically reliable.

The Silesia Cup provided the clearest answers regarding the battle among the receivers.

Because:

• Denislav Bardarov showed that he is now fully ready for the men's national team,

• and the just 18-year-old Zhasmin Velichkov hinted that his future is already at the highest level, not in junior volleyball.

It was precisely the performance of the two in Poland that turned the competition among the outside hitters into Blengini's toughest dilemma before Brazil.

And where does Rusi Zhelev stand?

This name is probably the most discussed among fans.
The reason is simple:
Rusi Zhelev is present almost everywhere around the national team in 2025, but with minimal playing time.
At the same time, this season Zhelev also has a club argument:
272 points in the Italian A2 with Macerata.

The problem is that:

• Velichkov already plays in the Superliga,

• Bardarov had a strong season in Turkey,

• while Zhelev still doesn't have a real role in the national team.

That is precisely why his absence from the 'Silesia Cup' seemed logical and also an important signal.
This could mean that Blengini is already starting a transition:
from a 'broad project'
to
an 'Olympic team'.

The new rules could overturn the selection.

There is another huge factor: teams can now travel with only one libero.
This automatically frees up another spot for an outside hitter.
But here comes the big dilemma.

Because the option with one libero:

• provides more depth in attack,

• more serve,

• and more options on the wings,

but could weaken:

• the defense,

• the reception,

• and the rotation in a long tournament like the VNL.

While the option with two liberos:

• brings more stability,

• more security in defense,

• and a more conservative balance.

Option #1: Bulgaria with one libero

Setters

• Simeon Nikolov

• Stoil Palev

Opposite

• Venislav Antov

Outside Hitters

• Aleksandar Nikolov

• Martin Atanasov

• Asparuh Asparuhov

• Georgi Tatarov

• Denislav Bardarov

• Zhasmin Velichkov

* Any one of them can be used as an alternative libero for a specific match according to the new rules.

Middle Blockers

• Alex Grozdanov

• Iliya Petkov

• Preslav Petkov

• Boris Nachev / Ivaylo Damyanov

Libero

• Damyan Kolev

This is the more aggressive option:

• more attack,

• more serve,

• and more possibilities for a scheme with three outside hitters around Aleksandar Nikolov.

Option #2: Bulgaria with two liberos

Setters

• Simeon Nikolov

• Stoil Palev

Opposite

• Venislav Antov

Outside Hitters

• Aleksandar Nikolov

• Martin Atanasov

• Asparuh Asparuhov

• Georgi Tatarov

• Denislav Bardarov / Zhasmin Velichkov

Middle Blockers

• Alex Grozdanov

• Iliya Petkov

• Preslav Petkov

• Boris Nachev / Ivaylo Damyanov (does not participate in "Silesia Cup" due to personal reasons)

Libero

• Damyan Kolev

• Dimitar Dobrev / Rusi Zhelev

Here Bulgaria wins:

• more security in defense,

• more stability in reception,

• and a longer defensive rotation.

But the price is clear:
one of Bardarov and Velichkov almost certainly remains out of the squad.

The big question remains one

Will Blengini choose:

• more security,
  or

• more ceiling?

Because the first week in the VNL may not decide the Olympic battle, but it will certainly show in which direction Bulgaria is heading in the new Olympic cycle.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov