2026 Men's VNL kicks off in Linyi with 12 high-stakes matches in 5 days

The 2026 Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) got underway in Linyi, east China's Shandong Province, on June 10, as world No. 1 Poland faced Cuba in the opening match of the season.

The first competition week, which runs from June 10 to 14 at the Linyi Olympic Sports Park, marks the first of three pool-stage stops in China as part of the 18-team global event spanning 12 countries and 17 host cities. Six top-tier national teams – including hosts China – are competing in 12 high-quality matches across five days of intense action.

Linyi will host matches in a pool that features Cuba, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, Ukraine, and the host team, China. The opening day also offers encounters between hosts China and Slovenia – semifinalists in the previous two seasons – as well as between last year's VNL rookies Ukraine and a strong Japanese side.

One of the most anticipated fixtures in Linyi this week is the Asian classic between China and Japan on June 13 at 16:30, a matchup that always generates great excitement among fans. The three top-level matches involving world top-10 teams – Poland, Japan, and Slovenia – will also attract considerable attention.

The VNL is a premier annual tournament, offering world ranking points second only to the Olympic Games and the World Championships, ensuring fierce competition and drawing strong global interest.

Editor：Lotus