An extremely busy schedule, serious international preparation, and an expansion of the scope of national teams await Bulgarian volleyball in the summer of 2026. This became clear during a press conference of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation with the participation of President Lyubomir Ganev, Vice-Presidents Petar Kanev and Zhivko Zhelev, and national teams coordinator Nikolay Ivanov.

Clear structure and more national teams

The Federation enters the summer with an expanded program, as the number of national teams is increasing. While last year Bulgaria had 8 teams in the international calendar, now they are growing to 10, with a possibility of reaching 11.
Special emphasis is placed on the early inclusion of younger age groups. For the first time, teams up to 16 years old will also be activated, with the goal of earlier selection and athlete development. This approach has already proven effective with previous generations who achieved serious successes.
An important piece of news is also the qualification of the U18 women's national team for the European Championship after a difficult path, which confirms the upward trend among young athletes.

Women: controls on three continents

The women's national team begins preparation in early May, with the program including both European and South American opponents.
On May 22, 23, and 24, Bulgaria will play three friendly matches against Sweden in Bulgaria. The Scandinavian team is led by Lorenzo Micelli – a former coach of Bulgaria, which further facilitates the organization of these matches.
On May 27, the team departs for Argentina, where they will play new friendly matches, after which they move to Brazil. There, the final acclimatization will take place before the start of the Nations League.
An important clarification is that these friendly matches are primarily secured thanks to the personal contacts of the coach, which highlights the importance of international connections in the team's current situation.

Men: strong tournament and transition to South America

The men's national team also begins preparation in early May, with Samokov serving as the base, where some of the youth teams will also train.
The program includes participation in the strong international tournament Silesia Cup in Poland, which will provide the first real assessment of the team's condition. The invitation to participate is indicative of Bulgaria's increased status on the international stage and the good contacts of the coaching staff.
After their stay in Poland, the team will head to South America, with Argentina as the first stop. This stage of preparation plays a key role in adapting to the conditions before joining the competitive cycle of the Nations League, which for Bulgarians will continue in Brazil. There will also be friendly matches before the home European Championship.

Working in a dynamic environment

The preparation of the national teams is coordinated with the busy club calendar. Some of the leading athletes participate in playoffs and finals in strong European championships, which necessitates an individual approach when including them in the training camps.
At the same time, work is being done with expanded squads of about 30 athletes, which allows for competition and flexibility in selection. The doors to the national teams remain open to all who demonstrate the required level.

Special focus on development

For women, an additional extended squad is also planned, which will undergo a two-month training process with friendly matches and tournaments, including participation in China. The goal is for athletes who do not make it into the main squad not to lose playing practice and to be prepared for subsequent cycles.
A similar approach is being applied to men, where young players will have the opportunity to participate in tournaments and friendly matches to gain high-level experience.

High goals and a solid foundation

With a record budget, stable organization, and growing interest in volleyball, Bulgaria enters the summer with ambition for a strong performance at all levels. Preparation is planned in detail, and the goal is clear – maximum development of the athletes and establishment of the national teams on the international stage.

photo: Nikolay Varadenov