Faroe Islands crowned champions as Northern Ireland successfully hosts CEV SCA Men’s Championship

Northern Ireland proudly welcomed the CEV Small Countries Association (SCA) Men’s Championship to Craigavon from 5-7 June, delivering an outstanding international Volleyball event that brought together six nations for three days of high-quality competition, friendship, and sporting excellence. Hosted by Northern Ireland Volleyball, the championship showcased the best of Small Countries Association Volleyball, with teams from the Faroe Islands, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Northern Ireland, San Marino and Scotland competing for honours in a closely contested tournament.

After an impressive series of performances, the Faroe Islands emerged as worthy champions, claiming the gold medal and the 2026 CEV SCA Men’s Championship title. San Marino secured the silver medal following a strong campaign, while Scotland completed the podium in third place. Hosts Northern Ireland produced a number of encouraging performances to finish fourth, ahead of Liechtenstein in fifth and Ireland in sixth place.

While the final standings reflected the competitive nature of the tournament, the championship was about much more than results. The event once again demonstrated the value of the CEV Small Countries Association in providing meaningful international competition and development opportunities for emerging Volleyball nations.

Throughout the three days of competition, Craigavon provided an excellent stage for international Volleyball. Players, coaches, officials, and supporters enjoyed a welcoming atmosphere and first-class facilities that helped create a memorable experience for all participating delegations.

The success of the championship was made possible through the dedication and hard work of many individuals and organisations. Special thanks are due to ABC Council for hosting the event at South Lake Leisure Centre and for their invaluable support throughout the planning and delivery of the championship. Their commitment helped ensure that visiting teams and officials experienced the very best of Northern Ireland hospitality.

Northern Ireland Volleyball would also like to express its sincere gratitude to the event staff, technical officials, volunteers, and supporters whose efforts behind the scenes were instrumental in delivering such a successful championship. From competition management and logistics to hospitality, venue operations, and match-day support, the professionalism and enthusiasm shown by everyone involved contributed to an exceptional tournament experience. Across the athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers, 21 nations were represented from across four continents. The global Volleyball family supported one of its smaller members to succeed.

The championship provided a significant opportunity to promote Volleyball across Northern Ireland. Young athletes, coaches, referees, and volunteers were able to witness international competition at close quarters, thereby gaining valuable experience and inspiration from the participating national teams. Events of this calibre play an important role in strengthening the Volleyball community and encouraging future generations to become involved in the sport.

For Northern Ireland, hosting the championship represented another important milestone in the development of Volleyball within the country. The successful organisation of an international event of this scale demonstrated the growing capacity, ambition, and expertise that exists within the local Volleyball community.
The tournament generated positive visibility for the sport and highlighted the strong partnerships that continue to support Volleyball’s growth throughout the region. The collaboration between NI Volleyball, ABC Council, CEV, the Small Countries Association, volunteers, and local stakeholders created an event that reflected the very best values of European Volleyball.

As the championship came to a close, there was a shared sense of pride among organisers, participants, and supporters. The Faroe Islands departed as deserving champions, but every nation contributed to the success of a tournament that celebrated competition, friendship, and international cooperation.

SCA President Blair Pettigrew said: “This year’s championships have really set the bar for standard both on and off the court, a huge congratulations to the Faroe Islands on the win but also to the staff and volunteers at Northern Ireland Volleyball who have once again proven that the federations of the SCA may be small in size but can very much hold their own when it comes to putting on international sporting events.” 
 
The 2026 CEV SCA Men’s Championship in Craigavon will be remembered not only for the quality of Volleyball on display but also for the warmth of its welcome, the excellence of its organisation, and the dedication of the people who made it possible. It stands as another successful chapter in the continued growth of Volleyball across Europe’s Small Countries Association and a proud achievement for Northern Ireland volleyball.

Final standing and current world ranking 
 
1.    Faroe Islands        WR 92
2.    San Marino        WR 53
3.    Scotland        WR 57
4.    Northern Ireland    WR 86
5.    Liechtenstein        WR 84
6.    Ireland                        WR 106

Click here for more pictures of the event.