Pools set for inaugural #BeachNationsCup

The top eight nations per gender in European Beach Volleyball are looking forward to making history when they contest the inaugural BeachVolley Nations Cup scheduled for early August in the real ‘Mecca’ of the sport, Austria’s capital Vienna.

The very first edition of this competition will crown the top nation in both men’s and women’s Beach Volleyball after a series of exciting ‘country vs country’ double headers featuring some of the world’s best players.

The Drawing of Lots held earlier this week in Vienna defined the composition of the pools that will get action underway at the iconic Heumarkt venue – the very same place where Europe’s Beach Volleyball elite contested last year’s #EuroBeachVolley in front of a passionate and enthusiastic sell-out crowd.  

Switzerland and Germany head women’s Pool A and B, respectively, as the top two nations from the CEV Country Ranking as of July 4, 2022. You can expect their teams will be playing some electrifying matches right from the start of the competition. Switzerland are due to take on Beach Volleyball strongholds the Netherlands, Latvia, and Spain in Pool A. Germany, whose women’s teams have been a major force to reckon with in Beach Volleyball for the past two decades, can expect strong opposition from hosts Austria, Italy and Czech Republic in Pool B.

Norway and the Netherlands are the nations heading Pool A and B respectively in the men’s competition. Italy, Poland, and Germany complete Pool A – with the home heroes representing Austria, Czech Republic and outsiders Estonia due to challenge the Dutchmen in Pool B.

The respective pool winners will advance directly to the semis – with the nations finishing second and third in their respective pools playing crossed elimination matches to define the remaining two sides progressing to the semi-finals.

Together with the Queen & King of the Court European Final, the BeachVolley Nations Cup is the latest addition to the CEV portfolio of major international events. The unique ‘country vs. country’ format will certainly entertain fans and media alike – as proven by the success achieved through the CEV Continental Cup, which helped qualify teams for the London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.