The third and final week of the preliminary phase of the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) begins on Wednesday and will provide the final answers to two of the most important questions – which eight teams will qualify for the Final Tournament in Macao and which team will be relegated from the competition.
A total of 36 matches will be played in the three host cities – Hong Kong (China), Osaka (Japan), and Belgrade (Serbia), with the stakes being equally high in both the battle for spots in the Finals and the fight for survival.
The host of the Final Tournament – China, which will take place from July 22 to 26 in Macao, has already secured its participation. The remaining seven spots will be filled by the best-ranked teams after the end of the preliminary phase.
At the bottom of the table, the stakes are even higher. The last, 18th team in the final standings, will be relegated from the Nations League and in 2027 will be replaced by the highest-ranked team in the FIVB world ranking that did not participate in this year's edition.

Osaka Gathers the Favorites

Undoubtedly, the strongest group this week is in the Japanese city of Osaka, where five of the top six teams in the provisional standings will play – leader USA, Brazil, Poland, Japan, and Turkey. Thailand also joins them, continuing its battle for survival.
Wednesday's program begins with the European clash between Poland and Turkey. Both teams have six wins from eight matches, with the Polish women being fourth with 17 points, and the Turkish women sixth with 15.
Next is the match between USA and Thailand. The Americans lead the standings with seven wins, one loss, and 20 points, while Thailand has two wins and nine points and needs another victory to move away from the danger zone.
The highlight of the program will be the encounter between Brazil and Japan. The Brazilians are second with seven wins and 20 points but are coming off a defeat to Germany, while the Japanese women are fifth with six victories and 16 points after two consecutive losses to the Dominican Republic and Italy.

In Hong Kong – Battle for the Finals and Survival

The matches in Hong Kong will be crucial for both the spots in the Finals and the fight against relegation.
Italy is third with 18 points, Canada is seventh with 15, and Belgium is 12th with eight points and still has chances for a spot among the top eight.
Ukraine (15th place) and the Dominican Republic (17th place) are in a direct battle to stay in the tournament.
In the first match, Belgium will face the Dominican Republic. The Belgian women have three wins and eight points, while the Caribbean team is just one position above the relegation zone with one win and five points.
Later, two-time consecutive champion Italy will meet debutant Ukraine, and the evening program features a match between China and Canada. Although the Chinese women are already guaranteed participants in the Finals as hosts, the Canadian women will need new points to maintain their spot in the Top 8.

Bulgaria Starts Against Strengthened Serbia

The eyes of Bulgarian fans will be directed towards Belgrade, where the national team of Bulgaria will start the third week with a tough match against host Serbia.
Bulgaria occupies 16th place with two wins and five points and needs successful results to avoid the danger of relegation.
The good news for the Serbian women is the return of their two biggest stars. For the first time in VNL 2026, opposite hitter Tijana Bošković and legendary setter Maja Ognjenović will play, who are expected to lead the team in their push for a spot in the Finals. Serbia is 13th with two wins and 10 points.
Before this match, Czechia and Germany will meet in a direct clash between two teams with 11 points each. The Czech women hold a higher position thanks to their four wins against three for the Germans.
The opening match in the Serbian capital pits the Netherlands against France. The Dutch are ninth with four wins and 12 points and continue to pursue a place among the top eight, while the French are last – 18th with one win and four points, and every new loss could seriously reduce their chances of retaining their place in the Nations League.