Today, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) officially announced thatthe Ukrainian women's national team will participate for the first time in its history in the Nations League(VNL) in the 2026 season. The team will take the place of relegated South Korea, who failed to stay among the elite after a weak season.
This is the second big step for Ukrainian volleyball on the international stage, afterthe men's team debuted in the Nations League in 2025, reaching the final round with a chance to participate in the quarter-finals.
Ranking opened the door for an invitation
Ukraine is thehighest-ranked women's team that did not participate in VNL 2025, occupying 15th place in the world ranking with an asset of192.10 points. This places it ahead of other contenders for an invitation -Puerto Rico (190.09 points)andArgentina (189.05 points), who remained behind it in the race to enter the tournament.
Golden European Season
This season, Ukraine won theEuropean Golden League, demonstrating stability and consistency. The team, led by the Polish specialistJakub Gluszak, went through the group stage with five wins and one loss to reach the finals in Sweden.
At the final tournamentthe Ukrainians got their revenge on the hosts for their only loss, eliminating them and in the final triumphing over Hungary with3:1 sets, winning the gold.
Statistical growth: jump in ranking
During this successful campaignUkraine added 19.96 points to its assetin the FIVB world ranking. This allowed them to overtake their direct competitors and become the logical choice for an invitation to the Nations League.
| Team | Ranking (2025) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 15 | 192.10 |
| Puerto Rico | 16 | 190.09 |
| Argentina | 17 | 189.05 |
Comment:The table shows the minimal difference between the three teams fighting for a place in the VNL. Ukraine managed to make a crucial leap thanks to its strong performance in the continental competition and the accumulated coefficient in the world ranking.
What's next?
In 2026, the Ukrainian women's team will debut among the world's best. This participation will not only provide valuable experience to the young team but will also be an important step in the development of Ukrainian women's volleyball. With growth in both men's and women's volleyball, Ukraine is beginning to establish itself as a new force on the world stage.
photo: CEV
