#EuroVolleyU22M – The future is played in Albufeira!

Albufeira, European City of Sport 2026, has been transformed into the epicentre of continental youth Volleyball. From June 29 to July 4, Europe’s top eight national teams will battle it out in the third edition of #EuroVolleyU22M. Playing on home soil, the Portuguese team shows ambition, though it is fully aware of the competition’s high demands.

Before the official kick-off on Monday, June 29, the young domestic ‘wolves’ tested their strength against Spain in a series of three friendly preparation matches in Vila Nova de Cerveira. The goal was to fine-tune strategies and consolidate their system of play.

In the second edition of the U22 European Championship held in 2024 in the Netherlands, the Portuguese squad achieved a remarkable fifth place. Now, performing in front of the Algarve crowd, the coaching staff led by João Franco knows that home support will be a deciding factor.

“I think playing at home brings many more benefits. We are going to face highly competitive teams and must fight with our own weapons, running a faster game and a well-organised system. But I believe we have all the potential to have a great European Championship,” Franco says. With the full squad assembled following the integration of the athletes who were rotating with the senior team in the European League, the head coach highlights the quality of the roster: “The message we always convey is one of hard work and evolution, given that they are young. However, they have the quality to fight against any team we will face.” 

The enthusiasm is shared by player Manuel Catarino (AA S. Mamede), who expresses the group’s sentiment: “This competition is very important for us; it will be our first European Championship with this squad. We will have the opportunity to play in Portugal, and we have the home support here, the backing of our family and friends. Wearing the flag on our chest is, without a doubt, a source of immense pride.”

When asked about the recipe for success, the athlete points the way forward: “Above all, playing with joy because it is a pride and a pleasure to represent our national team. And playing relaxed too, as I think stress only makes things worse. More than anything, confidence, joy, and grit.”

A boost for the sport

For the Portuguese Volleyball Federation (FPV), hosting this unprecedented tournament reflects the international prestige achieved by the country. Vicente Araújo, President of the FPV, underlines the strategic significance of the event: “Hosting this tournament represents more than just a sporting event; it is an unequivocal demonstration of the CEV’s trust in our organisational capacity and a historic milestone for national Volleyball. Investing in this competition is a strategic step toward embedding the sport among the youth.”

The Municipality of Albufeira, for its part, has prepared rigorously to welcome the European elite. Rui Cristina, Mayor of Albufeira, highlights the city’s excellent conditions: “We have top-quality facilities to host major international sporting events, qualified staff to collaborate on the event’s organisation, excellent accommodation and dining options, a great climate, landscapes of rare beauty, and our tradition of hospitality. We want to inspire our youth so that, in the future, the municipality will have more athletes practicing Volleyball.”

The road to the medals

Portugal is placed in Pool I, alongside Poland, Israel, and a strong Ukrainian national team. Pool II features France (the reigning champions), Italy, Bulgaria, and Czechia. The competition format leaves no room for error: the teams face each other in the group stage (round-robin system), with only the top two from each pool advancing to the semi-finals. The winners will play for the gold medal, while the defeated teams will battle for bronze. 

Albufeira is ready to witness the birth of the next stars of European and global Volleyball.