One of the most serious and long-term significant reforms in international volleyball was approved at the FIVB Board of Administration meeting in Lausanne, which was held on Friday simultaneously at the volleyball headquarters in Switzerland and online. The President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev, also participated in the remote part. The World Federation adopted new, significantly tightened rules for the transfer of players from one national federation to another - a topic that has caused tension for years due to the growing number of naturalized volleyball players in the world elite.
Stricter rules for changing federations: a maximum of two players in the final roster, three years of residence, and a complete ban after participation.
The new rules, set to come into effect on February 28, 2026, fundamentally change how teams can utilize naturalized volleyball players. Decisions include:
A maximum of two players who have changed their national federation may be listed in the final roster for international tournaments – the so-called O2bis list, which represents the official entry of eligible volleyball players.
A player wishing to change federation must have a minimum of three years of residence in the new country or have obtained its citizenship before the designation of the original federation.
An absolute ban on changing federation for any player who has already represented their original federation - whether at youth or senior/women's level.
The reform aims to protect the development of national academies, prevent the uncontrolled recruitment of players from other countries, and ensure fair competition among national teams.
Earlier start of national championships:
FIVB also approved changes to the 2026–27 season calendar, which involve moving the start of national championships from Monday to the preceding Friday. To be perfectly clear:
The federation's initial administrative plan was for seasons to start on Monday.
Now, FIVB is moving the start to the Friday before these administrative dates to ensure a full weekend of matches right at the start of the season.
The exemplary logic is as follows:
if the women's championship was planned to start on Monday, October 5, the new start will be Friday, October 2;
if the men's championship was planned for Monday, October 19, the start will be moved to Friday, October 16.
Thus, FIVB introduces a standardized rule - always starting on a Friday, which simplifies schedules, benefits television broadcasters, and offers a strong marketing launch for the season.
New North Central Volleyball Association – an important step in regional restructuring
The Board approved the creation of the new North Central Volleyball Association, which comes into effect on January 1, 2026, and unifies the federations of Canada, USA, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. This is a strategic move for more effective organization and coordination in the region.
Unified system of Centers of Excellence
The framework for international Centers of Excellence was also approved, which will unite all existing training centers into a standard global system. Through Volleyball Empowerment 2.0, a new model of training camps will be introduced, aimed at more targeted support for developing federations.
2026 Calendar: Continental Championships in one window
The continental championships for men and women in 2026 will be held between August 21 and September 27, with confederations free to choose their exact dates according to regional specificities.
Continued growth of global competition and development of the sport
FIVB reported that the Volleyball Empowerment program has already supported 206 national federations through 1658 projects worth 53 million dollars, thereby enhancing global competitiveness in the sport.
Additionally, progress on the Strategic Vision 2032 and reports from all major tournaments in 2025 were discussed.
A look at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games
The meeting concluded with an up-to-date report on the preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. FIVB confirmed that it is working closely with the organizers to ensure a world-class level for volleyball and beach volleyball.
