Record-breaking figures for revamped European League

As many as 53 teams representing 29 National Federations will contest a record-breaking edition of the revamped CEV Volleyball European League – which for the first time will provide a direct pathway to secure participation in the CEV EuroVolley 2028. 

As previously announced by the CEV leadership, the revisited CEV Volleyball European League has been designed specifically to streamline the international calendar, while at the same time providing opportunities for national teams to continue with their development – with coveted spots at stake to participate in the CEV EuroVolley come 2028. These tickets will go to the top four teams from the final standing in each gender, thereby propelling the CEV European League to a whole different level as far as its competitive side and commercial appeal are concerned. 

The men’s European League involves 27 teams, including the winners of the European Golden League 2025 – Finland – and other high-profile sides such as Czechia, who finished as high as fourth at the World Championship earlier this year, and the Netherlands. As many as 14 of these teams are also due to participate in the CEV EuroVolley 2026, so the European League will feature an interesting mix of more established sides and others still in their developing process and hoping to make their mark for the first time. After completion of the League Phase, the top six teams will join the final stage – where those four coveted tickets to EuroVolley 2028 will be at stake. 

26 National Federations have registered for participation in the women’s European League, which will start with a Preliminary Round involving the four lowest-ranked teams – Denmark, Luxembourg, Albania, and Lithuania – with the top two from this round robin tournament progressing to the League Phase. The competition involves three of the top four sides from last year’s European Golden League – Hungary, Sweden, and Romania – plus Slovenia, who earlier this year crowned their World Championship debut with a top-16 finish. The women’s European League will also reach its climax with a Final Six where the top four teams will punch their ticket to the CEV EuroVolley 2028. As many as 13 of the teams involved in the European League will also participate in the CEV EuroVolley 2026 Women later in the summer of next year. 

Out of the 29 National Federations involved, 24 registered both their men’s and women’s national teams. Czechia and the Netherlands only enter the men’s event since their women’s national teams are involved in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League – the same goes for Slovenia, only entering the women’s competition as their men’s team is a regular feature in the VNL. On the other hand, Norway and Lithuania have signed up for the men’s and women’s tournament, respectively, thereby securing their historic debuts in the European League.