Sofia will host the first round of zonal qualifications for the CEV U18 Women European Championship 2026. The tournament will take place from January 13–17 at the Hristo Botev Sports Hall and will bring together seven national teams from the region.
The competition will be played according to the regulations of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV). The teams are divided into two groups and will play in a "round-robin" system. The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-final matches will compete for first place in the final, and the overall winner of the tournament will secure a direct quota for the European Championship finals, which will take place in July 2026 in Latvia and Lithuania.
The Bulgarian national team, led by coach Atanas Petrov, was placed in Group A, along with the teams from Kosovo, Montenegro, and Greece.
Group B consists of the teams from Romania, Turkey, and Serbia.
Schedule of Bulgaria's matches
January 13, 5:30 PM – Bulgaria – Kosovo
January 14, 5:30 PM – Bulgaria – Montenegro
January 15, 5:30 PM – Bulgaria – Greece
The semi-finals are scheduled for January 16, and the final will be played on January 17. The full schedule of matches is available on the official CEV website. All qualification matches will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation.
Ticket Information
Daily ticket: 6 euros
Free admission for everyone up to 18 years old (inclusive)
Tickets are sold only on-site, with sales starting 1 hour before the first match of the day.
The upcoming tournament provides an excellent opportunity for the young Bulgarian national players to face strong opponents and take a decisive step towards participating in the European Championship finals.
