Bulgarian international Iva Dudova will have the opportunity to play at the highest club level in the world in her very first season with Turkish giants Eczacıbaşı. The Istanbul team's participation in the 2026 Women's Club World Championship has already been officially confirmed by Volleyball World.
The tournament will take place from December 8 to 13 in São Paulo, Brazil, and will feature eight teams from four continents.
Dudova is moving to Eczacıbaşı for the 2026/27 season, and thus the Bulgarian opposite hitter will be part of one of the major contenders for the world club title.
Eczacıbaşı secured its place at the Club World Championship as European vice-champion. The Turkish giant is a three-time winner of the competition – in 2015, 2016, and 2023.
The competition within the Turkish team will be exceptional. Volleyball World lists among Eczacıbaşı's expected stars Olympic champion Ekaterina Antropova, who was named MVP of the last Club World Championship, as well as Elif Şahin, Ebrar Karakurt, and Japanese international Mayu Ishikawa.
The other European representative will be Champions League winner VakıfBank. The four-time world club champion features Tijana Bošković, Marina Markova, Zehra Güneş, and Naz Aydemir Akyol.
The hosts from Brazil will be represented by Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde and SESI Vôlei Bauru, and the third South American participant is Peruvian Alianza Lima. From Asia, Japanese NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki and Kazakh Zhetysu qualified, while African volleyball will be represented by Egyptian Al Ahly.
The eight participants will be divided into two groups of four teams. The group stage matches are on December 8, 9, and 10. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals on December 12, and the bronze medal match and the final will be on December 13.
For Iva Dudova, participating with Eczacıbaşı means an opportunity to face some of the strongest clubs and volleyball players in the world as early as December.
Participants in the 2026 Women's Club World Championship:
Eczacıbaşı (Turkey)
VakıfBank (Turkey)
Osasco São Cristóvão Saúde (Brazil)
SESI Vôlei Bauru (Brazil)
Alianza Lima (Peru)
NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki (Japan)
Zhetysu (Kazakhstan)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
The Club World Championship will take place from December 8 to 13 at the Ginásio Poliesportivo Wlamir Marques in São Paulo.