The European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) officially announced the names of the five clubs that receive wild cards for direct participation in the group stage of the 2026 CEV Champions League. The decision was made after a thorough review of the applications by the CEV Board of Directors.
Men's teams:
Halkbank ANKARA (Turkey), with coach Radostin Stoychev
Asseco Resovia RZESZOW (Poland), with coach Massimo Botti, former coach of Bogdanka
Montpellier HSC VB (France), where Dimitar Dimitrov last played before going to South Korea
Women's teams:
Zeren Sports Club ANKARA (Turkey)
Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (Italy)
A total of 17 clubs (men and women) applied for wild cards – a testament to the immense interest in participating in Europe's most prestigious club tournament. The return of wild cards aims to strengthen the sporting intrigue and commercial value of the tournament, with candidates being evaluated based on clear criteria, including both sporting and marketing indicators. Of the three Italian teams that were competing for a 'wild card' - Piacenza (qualified for the CEV Cup), Milan (qualified for the Challenge Cup), and Verona (which has no rights earned on the court for European cups in 2025/26)... none received a wild card.
🏐 More attraction, greater variety
CEV relies on a balance between sporting level and market potential, striving to make the Champions League even more watchable and profitable. The newly selected clubs represent key volleyball markets and are expected to attract significant interest from fans, sponsors, and partners.
They will start their participation directly from the fourth round – the group stage, effectively replacing the Russian teams, which remain temporarily suspended from international tournaments due to the current geopolitical situation.
🎯 Strategic move for the future of European volleyball
This move is part of CEV's broader strategy to modernize the Champions League and transform it into an even stronger commercial and sporting product. Expectations for the 2026 edition are high – more spectators, more emotions, and a greater impact on the development of volleyball in Europe.
