Just a year ago, Bulgaria looked like a young and interesting team that still had to prove it belonged among the big names in world volleyball. Today, the situation is fundamentally different.
After the impressive performance at the World Championship and the final, which few expected, the national team climbed to №9 in the world ranking and for the first time in a long time
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics no longer seems 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 strong, but still lower-ranked opponents.

Provided that Bulgaria does not underestimate its opponents, such matches can provide an important start in the battle for Olympic points, which will continue through the VNL, Euro 2026, and the 2027 World Championship.

The Olympic math is starting 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 pathways.

• USA (№5 in the world ranking) is hosting the Olympics.

• One among Italy (№2), Poland (№1), and France (№4) is likely to secure a direct quota as European champion.

As much as Bulgaria might wish to dream of a European title, for now, the more realistic strategy seems different.
The first major goal is a strong performance early in the VNL, where every victory brings valuable points for the world ranking and could prove decisive in the Olympic battle.
Then 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 (№30)
  
  and Poland (No. 1).

It is there that 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 like Ukraine (No. 17),

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

Exactly such a group can turn out to be extremely important both for the ranking and for a more favorable path in the European Championship eliminations.
If the national team then manages to attack 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 road to Los Angeles 2028.

• Japan (No. 7) is a 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 can also seriously change the picture, because if Brazil (No. 3) or Argentina (No. 8) win the tournament, they will get a direct Olympic quota and will also drop out of the ranking scheme.

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

Precisely for this reason:

• every victory in the VNL,

• a strong performance at the European Championship,

• and a potential breakthrough 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 around the group for Brazil begins.
Because until last year, Blengini could afford:

• experiments,

• wider 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 VNL 2025, the World Championship, and the last control matches in the "Silesia Cup", a relatively stable core is now visible.

Setters

• Simeon Nikolov

• Stoil Palev

There is practically no intrigue here.

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 game with his height of over two meters.

The dilemma: one or two opposite hitters?

At the "Silesia Cup", Dimitar Dimitrov was often used rotationally on the front row, especially when Stoil Palev was upfront.

The reason was obvious:

• height

• block

• better attack.

But Moni Nikolov's presence seriously changes this necessity.
That is precisely why there is an increasing probability that Bulgaria will go with only one pure opposite.
Currently, Venislav Antov appears to have an advantage:

• better form,

• more trust,

• stronger performances in practice matches.

This opens up a possibility:

• Alexander Nikolov to enter as a second opposite in a more combinative scheme with three receivers, where all outside hitters actively participate in both reception and attack. It is precisely this interchangeability that 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 precisely where the most difficult choice is.

The following seem almost certain:

• Aleksandar Nikolov

• Asparuh Asparuhov

• Martin Atanasov

• Georgi Tatarov

But the pressure on Tatarov is already real.

Zhasmin Velichkov – the "SuperLega" ace

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

And that carries weight.

Because:

• The SuperLega 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 physicality,

• more power,

• a heavier serve,

• a higher and more effective attack.

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 enormous value to Blengini.
These are precisely the kind of players Italian coaches prefer:

• stable,

• disciplined,

• tactically reliable.

The 'Silesia Cup' provided the clearest answers regarding the battle among the outside hitters.

Because:

• Denislav Bardarov showed that he is now fully ready for the senior national team,

• and the mere 18-year-old Zhasmin Velichkov hinted that his future is 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.

But what about Rusi Zhelev?

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

The problem is that:

• Velichkov already plays in SuperLega,

• Bardarov had a strong season in Turkey,

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

Therefore, his absence from the 'Silesia Cup' didn't seem entirely logical.
It's possible the reason for his absence is quite prosaic. We are yet to see.

The new rules could overturn the selection.

There is another determining 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 serves,

• and more options on the wings,

but could weaken:

• the defense,

• the reception,

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

And 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

Receivers

• Aleksandar Nikolov

• Martin Atanasov

• Asparuh Asparuhov

• Georgi Tatarov

• Denislav Bardarov

• Zhasmin Velichkov

Each one 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 serves,

• and more opportunities for a three-receiver scheme around Aleksandar Nikolov.

Option №2: Bulgaria with two liberos

Setters

• Simeon Nikolov

• Stoil Palev

Opposite

• Venislav Antov

Receivers

• Aleksandar Nikolov

• Martin Atanasov

• Asparuh Asparuhov

• Georgi Tatarov

• Denislav Bardarov / Zhasmin Velichkov

Middle Blockers

• Alex Grozdanov

• Iliya Petkov

• Preslav Petkov

• Boris Nachev / Ivaylo Damyanov (did not participate in the "Silesia Cup" for personal reasons)

Liberos

• 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.
A third option is also possible, but we will probably learn about it a day before departure for Argentina.

The big question remains one

Will Blengini choose:

• more security,
  or

• more efficiency in attack?

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

photo: Nikolay Varadinov