Portuguese men’s senior team sets sights on Eurovolley amid busy summer for national squads

The Portuguese Volleyball Federation (FPV) officially announced a period of intense activity and high ambition for national teams across all age groups, headlined by the men’s senior national team as they begin the final preparations for their fourth consecutive appearance at the EuroVolley.

The men’s squad, led by head coach João José, has gathered at the Pavilhão de Santa Maria Maior in Viana do Castelo to begin training for the upcoming European showpiece, scheduled to take place from September 9 to 26 across Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania. Portugal will compete in Group B, based in Sofia, Bulgaria, opening their campaign in maximum survival mode against the world’s elite. They will face defending champions Poland on September 10, world vice-champions and hosts Bulgaria on September 11, Israel on September 13, Ukraine on September 14, and North Macedonia on September 15.

Head coach João José outlined the squad’s vision and objectives for the tournament, emphasising a balanced approach aimed at securing a place in the knockout stages. “I would describe this call-up as a squad with a broader range of competitive solutions, while continuing to build experience for the future. Our ambition remains exactly the same: we want to be competitive in every match, but we are doing so with a group that represents both the present and the future. There is a balance between experienced and young athletes, with players who are gaining relevant international experience, and more options to respond to different challenges,” stated José. Looking ahead to the group stage, he added: “It is a competitive group, with well-known and demanding opponents. Without any illusions of easy games, tasks, or challenges, we have to build our path in this competition.” The head coach clearly defined the team’s objective: securing a top-four finish in Pool B to advance to the Round of 16.

The 16-player squad called up features: Gonçalo Sousa, Kelton Tavares, and Lourenço Martins (Sporting CP); Diogo Fevereiro and Tomás Teixeira (SL Benfica); Gonçalo Gomes and Nuno Teixeira (Vitória SC); José Pinto (AA Espinho); Rodrigo Costa (C. Maia GC); Guilherme Menezes (SC Espinho); Nuno Marques (Lindemans Aalst, Belgium); André Pereira (Martigues VB, France); Bruno Dias (Tourcoing VB, France); Alexandre Ferreira (Tokyo Great Bears, Japan); Filip Cveticanin (SC Zalau, Romania); and Manuel Figueiredo (Volley Näfels, Switzerland).

Alongside the senior men, Portuguese Volleyball is active across several other international fronts. The women’s national team is currently training in Santo Tirso under head coach Hugo Silva, preparing for their historic second appearance at EuroVolley 2026 in Pool C in Baku, Azerbaijan. Their intense schedule begins on August 21 against hosts Azerbaijan, followed by matches against Belgium on August 23, the Netherlands on August 24, Spain on August 26, and Romania on August 27. The call-up includes Ana Carmo Figueiras, Margarida Maia, Maria Leonor Coelho, Maria Reis Lopes, and Matilde Calado Rodrigues from SC Braga, Alice Clemente, Joana Garcez, and Mariana Garcez from SL Benfica, Inês Campos from C. Maia GC, Marlene Pereira from CD Fiães, Ana Monteiro from FC Porto, Rita Campos from Leixões SC, Amanda Cavalcanti from Sporting CP, Raissa Cassamá from Vitória SC, Júlia Kavalenka from VM Brescia in Italy, and Joana Milho Conceição from CM University in the USA.

In addition to the senior teams, three national youth and developmental selections are currently in intensive training.
The U19 women’s team is training at Pavilhão da Escola Secundária Carolina Michaëlis in Porto for the WEVZA 1st Zonal Qualification Stage in France from August 25 to 29. Competing in Pool A against France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, the team aims to qualify directly for the U20 European Championship in Italy and Malta from July 8 to 17, 2027. The squad includes: Catarina Mouta and Sofia Schoberl (C. Maia GC); Margarida Vaz and Raquel Gonçalves (Clube K); Mariana Marinho (FC Porto); Francisca Botelho, Laura Afanas, and Gabriela Lopes (Leixões SC); Inês Andrade, Inês Parreira, Maria Teixeira Miranda, and Sofia Teixeira (PV/Colégio Efanor); Ema Mello and Matilde Teixeira (SC Espinho); and Beatriz Pereira, Catarina Gomes, Catarina Mendes, and Matilde Eustáquio (SL Benfica).

The Under-19 men’s team is also training in Porto before traveling to Germany for their WEVZA zonal tournament from August 16 to 20, 2026. Playing in Pool B against Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, they are competing for direct qualification to the U20 European Championship in Croatia and Montenegro from July 21 to 30, 2027. The squad includes: Aires Coelho, Aleksandr Barbazyak, Francisco Gomes, and Tiago Ferradaz (AA Espinho); Afonso Coelho and Diogo Almeida (AA S. Mamede); Gabriel Ribeiro, and Pedro Gregório (Ala de Gondomar); Alexandre Colaço (C. Maia GC); Gonçalo Ortega, and Rodrigo Fernandes (Leixões SC); Miguel Pedro Pereira (SC Espinho); Afonso Simões, Diogo Paredes, Erik Sales, and Vasco Lopes (SL Benfica); and Bernardo Oliveira and Salvador Oliveira (Sporting CP).

Finally, the men’s national team for the Mediterranean Games is training at Castêlo da Maia GC under head coach João Coelho (Sporting CP). They will represent Portugal in Group A in Taranto, Italy, from August 21 to September 3, facing Greece and host nation Italy. The squad includes: Dinis Gomes and Rafael Pinto (AA Espinho); Diogo Almeida and Manuel Catarino (AAS Mamede); Pedro Albuquerque (C. Maia GC); Rafael Santos and Rodrigo Pereira (Leixões SC); André Marques (SC Espinho); Tiago Silva and Tomás Teixeira (SL Benfica); João Salgueiro (VC Viana); Gustavo Sousa (Vitória SC); João Infante (Cumberland, USA); Guilherme Maia (Prisma Taranto, Italy); Miguel Sinfrónio (Helios Grizzlys Giesen, Germany); and Gustavo Cavalcanti (OK Maribor, Slovenia).

This extensive schedule reflects the growing footprint and higher standards of Portuguese Volleyball across all levels on the international stage.