The President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev, commented on the chances of our men's and women's national teams at the 2027 World Championships. During the press conference dedicated to beach volleyball,Volleyweek.bghe was asked for his assessment of the women's draw and Bulgaria's chances of overcoming the group stage. After answering the question, Ganev himself moved on to his expectations for the men's national team, whose draw is yet to come.
Women: Minimal chances, but the focus is on Brisbane 2032
Ganev did not hide that the Bulgarian team faces an extremely difficult challenge at the World Championship in the USA and Canada. He explained that our place in the last pot predetermined the tough opponents.
"A very tough group, there's no point in lying. Our chance to get past Russia is really minimal, but that's why volleyball is so attractive, because you never know how a match can end," said the President of the BFV.
According to him, only one or two of the other groups are theoretically easier. He recalled that the presence of hosts outside the top 16 teams in the world ranking usually creates an opportunity for a more favorable draw, but this did not happen for Bulgaria.
Despite the difficult task, Ganev is adamant that the national team must continue its development, and the big goal remains qualification for the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032.
One of the interim tasks is for Bulgaria to move among the top 16 teams in the world ranking to avoid a similar situation in subsequent draws. Ganev expressed hope that the team would gradually catch up, improving by six, seven, or eight positions.
The president of the federation also revealed another issue that is yet to be resolved - the participation of Kalina Veneva and Darina Naneva. Both are potential players in the women's national team, but during the same period, the U19 Girls' World Championship is also scheduled, where Bulgaria will defend its title from 2025.
The decision on where to use the two volleyball players will be made after discussions between the coaching staffs and deliberation by the Federation's Management Board.
Men: Finland in the group, Turkey in the round of 16, and a possible quarterfinal
Without being asked an additional question, Ganev directed the conversation to the men's national team and his expectations for the World Championship in Poland.
According to him, Russia's absence will allow Bulgaria, which ranks ninth in the world ranking, to be seeded as the eighth team in the draw distribution.
"We are in ninth place in the ranking. Since Russia will not participate in the men's competition, we will accordingly become eighth and most likely will be in a group with Finland," Ganev predicted. He explained that the first 16 teams are distributed according to their positions in the ranking, and the other two opponents in the group will be determined by draw from among the teams ranked 17th to 32nd.
Ganev also outlined Bulgaria's possible path in the knockout phase. If they finish first in the group, the national team will meet the second-placed team from host Poland's group in the round of 16, with Turkey being the most likely opponent, according to him.
If successful in this match, Bulgaria will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will be in Japan's bracket.
The President of the BFV pointed out that in the outlined scenario, Bulgaria and Poland could meet only in the final, while a second place in the preliminary group would significantly complicate the national team's path.
Ganev described reaching the quarterfinals as a great success for the team, but warned that preliminary calculations should not displace the main task of the volleyball players.
"The boys have only one job - to fight for every ball. That is their task, we have not given them any other task," concluded Lyubomir Ganev.