Four teams seal European League semi-final spot and EuroVolley 2028 tickets

On Saturday, Denmark secured their progression to the semis of the men’s CEV Volleyball European League 2026 with a sixth straight win in as many matches – and with this result they have also become the first team – apart from co-hosts Montenegro – to seal their participation in the CEV EuroVolley 2028 Men. Slovenia, Sweden, and Hungary have advanced to the women’s semis with one match to spare – and with this they have all booked their journey to EuroVolley 2028 two years in advance as well.  

The Danes were the only team with a perfect record from Round 1 and 2 to complete their duties on Saturday. They did so in emphatic style as they beat Romania 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-15) in another dominant show of strength powered by their top-scoring duo Mads Kyed Jensen and Oskar Kjerstein Madsen, who registered 14 points apiece. Denmark did not drop a single set in their two matches contested in Tirana – as on Friday they had routed hosts Albania in three sets as well. With this, they finish the League Round on maximum six wins and 17 points – with 18 sets won and only three lost. 

The Netherlands could still overtake the Danes at the top of the charts – for now they celebrated a fifth straight 3-0 win as they powered past Croatia in the tournament being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Last year’s Golden League winners Finland may do the same on Sunday as they have amassed five wins in a row as well following their victory over Slovakia on Saturday. The race for a top-four finish remains open though – Israel sit in third place with five wins in as many matches, Sweden have completed their task with five wins and one loss, but Greece, Estonia and Czechia could still edge past the Swedes if they are to win their last matches on Sunday or to take at least one point from their respective fixtures. Estonia came back twice from one set down against the Swedes on Saturday but they eventually lost at the tiebreak their matchup in Bijelo Polje, Montenegro.

Over in the women’s competition, four teams – Slovenia, Sweden, Hungary and Slovakia – have five wins from as many matches, with Slovenia standing out as the sole team not to lose a single set this far. Sweden dropped their first set on Saturday as they beat Austria 3-1 in Tirana. Slovenia, on the other hand, survived three close sets in their ‘derby’ with Croatia (25-22, 25-21, 26-24). Croatia offered strong resistance, played aggressively, but Slovenia responded smartly and used the opponent’s mistakes in key moments to gain a small advantage that they then knew how to turn into three points. Croatia had a chance to win the third set, which would have made this duel even more interesting, but Slovenia did not allow it and used the second set and match point to seal a maximum victory. The Slovenians dedicated the victory to their teammate Nika Milošić, who was celebrating her 21st birthday. Slovenia hopes to complete their impeccable performance in the European League in tomorrow’s duel with the host North Macedonia, which will close the tournament in Skopje.

Finland have completed their duties with five wins and one loss but they can no longer overtake any of the top four teams. As things currently stand, Slovenia, Sweden, and Hungary are sure of a top-four spot – even if they were to lose their last match 0-3, they would not drop further down. Slovakia, on the other hand, at least theoretically, may be overtaken by Switzerland if they were to lose 0-3 to Georgia and the Swiss were to beat Israel in straight sets. Spain have a slim chance as well – they would have to beat Iceland 3-0 and hope for Slovakia to lose 0-3 (and Switzerland to lose at least a set to Israel to be removed from the equation) to equal their set ratio and it would then come down to the set points ratio to define the fourth side qualified for the semis and for EuroVolley 2028 as well.