The Polish Federation announced the extended squad of the men's national team for the 2026 representative season, in which Nikola Grbić's team will be one of Bulgaria's main rivals. The two teams will meet three times during the campaign – at the "Silesia Cup" tournament, in the Nations League, and in the group stage of the 2026 European Championship.
The first thing that stands out in Poland's selection is the extensive rejuvenation. The list includes 12 debutants, and the youngest name in the extended squad is the merely 16-year-old setter Jakub Przybyłkowicz, who is 204 cm tall and a U19 vice-world champion.
At the same time, several of the most recognizable figures of the Polish national team are absent from the squad, including Bartosz Kurek, Łukasz Kaczmarek, Grzegorz Łomacz, Norbert Huber, Bartosz Bednorz, and Bartosz Kwolek. Furthermore, Marcin Janusz and Paweł Zatorski have concluded their national team careers before the 2026 season.
Poland's extended squad for the 2026 season
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Outside Hitters | Tomasz Fornal, Michał Gierżot, Michał Grabek, Jakub Kiedos, Wilfredo Leon, Mikołaj Sawicki, Kamil Semeniuk, Artur Szalpuk, Jakub Szymański, Aleksander Śliwka, Bartosz Zych |
| Setters | Marcel Bakaj, Błażej Bień, Jan Firlej, Marcin Komenda, Jakub Przybyłkowicz, Sergiusz Serafin |
| Opposite Hitters | Bartłomiej Bołądź, Dawid Dulski, Wojciech Gacek, Bartosz Gomułka, Aliaksei Nasevich, Kevin Sasak |
| Middle Blockers | Mateusz Bieniek, Szymon Jakubiszak, Jakub Kochanowski, Bartłomiej Lemański, Jakub Majchrzak, Adrian Markiewicz, Jakub Nowak, Mateusz Nowak, Mateusz Poręba |
| Libero | Jakub Ciułnaitis, Bartosz Fijałek, Maksymilian Granieczny, Maksym Kędzierzki, Jakub Popiwczak |
The Polish staff has opted for significant depth across all positions, but the names among the outside hitters and middle blockers make the strongest impression. It is there that the depth seems greatest, while the most visible personnel changes are occurring among the setters following the end of Marcin Janusz's career and the absence of Grzegorz Łomacz.
Debutants in the extended squad
| No. | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Błażej Bien | Setter |
| 2 | Jakub Przybyłkowicz | Setter |
| 3 | Sergiusz Serafin | Setter |
| 4 | Wojciech Gajek | Opposite Hitter |
| 5 | Jakub Majchrzak | Middle Blocker |
| 6 | Adrian Markiewicz | Middle Blocker |
| 7 | Michał Grabek | Outside Hitter |
| 8 | Jakub Kiedos | Outside Hitter |
| 9 | Bartosz Zych | Outside Hitter |
| 10 | Jakub Ciunaitis | Libero |
| 11 | Bartosz Fijałek | Libero |
| 12 | Maksym Kędzierski | Libero |
This group clearly shows that Poland is entering a new cycle. The debutants are not concentrated in just one line, but are spread across almost all positions. This is a sign that the staff is not only thinking about the immediate result, but also about building a new long-term foundation around the already established figures.
Major Absentees and Those Who Have Concluded Their National Team Careers
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Absentees | Bartosz Kurek, Łukasz Kaczmarek, Grzegorz Łomacz, Norbert Huber, Bartosz Bednorz, Bartosz Kwolek |
| Those Who Have Ended Their National Team Careers | Marcin Janusz, Paweł Zatorski |
This is precisely where the great intrigue surrounding Poland for the 2026 season lies. The team retains enormous potential, but the absence of some of its most experienced names will inevitably change its appearance. Questions regarding game organization and balance in key moments are particularly sensitive, as Poles have until now relied on players with exceptionally extensive international experience.
Youngest Name on the List
| Player | Age | Position | Height | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jakub Przybyłkowicz | 16 years old | Setter | 204 cm | U19 World Vice-champion |
Przybyłkowicz's inclusion is perhaps the strongest message on the Polish roster. At 16 years old, he is evidently already seen as part of the national team's future. Even his mere presence in such a group shows how confidently Poland continues to invest in the next generation.
What this means for Bulgaria
For Bulgaria, the three upcoming clashes with Poland will be different in nature, but the overall conclusion is one – the opponent will probably not look completely polished at the start of the season, but will have immense competition and great variability. This makes the Polish team potentially more unpredictable, especially if some of the new names seize their chance in the very first tournaments.
At the same time, retaining players like Wilfredo León, Marcin Komenda, Tomasz Fornal, Kamil Semeniuk, Aleksander Śliwka, Jakub Kochanowski, and Mateusz Bieniek means that even in a transitional phase, Poland remains a team of the highest European and world class.
photo:volleyballworld.com
