Undefeated teams meet in #EuroLeagueM Finals with title and VNL spot at stake

On Wednesday afternoon, Sweden delighted their 1,050 fans in Örebro by cruising to a 3-1 victory over Hungary (25-10, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23) to seal their spot in the final of the women’s CEV Volleyball European League 2026. The Swedes had previously secured a 3-2 away win this past weekend and now progress to the last stage of the competition with a perfect record of eight wins in as many matches they have contested this far.

The European League champions will receive € 100,000 in prize money, while the runners-up will earn € 60,000. The final will also determine which team secures promotion to next summer’s Volleyball Nations League. The VNL berth will be decided between Finland and the Netherlands through FIVB World Ranking points. Finland currently holds a narrow advantage over the Dutch side. If either team wins both final matches, it will secure promotion to the VNL for the 2027 season. Should the teams split the matches 1-1, the VNL place will be decided based on the ranking points gained and lost from the match results. If the total number of sets won is tied, Finland would earn promotion. Consequently, Finland could theoretically secure the VNL berth already in Nokia by winning the first final 3-0.

Finland currently ranks 17th in the world with 207.37 ranking points, matching its highest-ever ranking. The Netherlands are 18th with 205.61 points. Ahead of both teams are VNL participants Iran (212.45) and Belgium (218.09), while Czechia (203.22) and Cuba (195.43) follow behind. The Netherlands lost approximately 38 ranking points during last summer’s VNL campaign but have regained 24 points through this year’s European League before the finals.

“This is a great opportunity for us as a team to win another title. We won the European Golden League last year and this would be a great continuation of that success. Of course, a place in the VNL is also a massive incentive. The Netherlands is a strong team full of quality players. Having Joel [Banks] as their head coach certainly adds an extra twist to the matchup! The summer has been enjoyable this far, although the differences in team levels have presented some challenges. As a team, I think we have handled those challenges very well,” says Finland middle blocker Severi Savonsalmi. 

The Dutch national team is coached by Joel Banks, a familiar figure to Finnish Volleyball fans from his time leading their national team. The 51-year-old Briton took charge of the Netherlands last year. The Netherlands endured a difficult VNL campaign in 2025, winning only one of twelve matches and finishing last, resulting in relegation from the competition. At the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship in the Philippines, the Dutch reached the first knockout round, just like Finland, before losing 1-3 to Türkiye. They ultimately finished 13th, while Finland placed 15th. 

Banks entered this summer with a record of three wins and 13 losses as Dutch head coach. Thanks to eight consecutive victories in the European League, that record now stands at 11-13.
The Netherlands will also participate in this summer’s CEV EuroVolley, where they will be in the same preliminary pool as Finland in Tampere. The Dutch secured direct qualification by finishing fifth at the 2023 European Championship, narrowly missing out on the medal matches after a 2-3 defeat to Italy in the quarterfinals. Only five players from that successful 2023 squad remain in the current roster: Siebe Korenblek, Sil Meijs, Fabian Plak, Jeffrey Klok, and Twan Wiltenburg. Of these players, only Plak was a regular starter during that tournament.

Undefeated teams face off 

The European League Finals feature the two best teams of the summer, with both Finland and the Netherlands winning all eight of their matches. The Netherlands have dropped only two sets in eight matches, both against Israel in the semi-finals. The Dutch previously defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovakia, Georgia, Luxembourg, and North Macedonia all by 3-0 scores.

The Finns have lost five sets in their eight matches: one each against Austria, Montenegro and Slovakia during the League Round, and one in each semi-final against Denmark. Finland recorded 3-0 victories over Iceland, Croatia, and Albania. Finland won the European Golden League title last summer and previously claimed silver in 2005. The Netherlands won the competition in 2006 and 2012.

It is also worth remembering that Finland competed at the highest international level in the World League between 2006 and 2017, while the Netherlands participated in the same competition and in the subsequent VNL during 1990-2003, 2009-2010, 2013-2017 and 2021-2025. During those years, neither country played in the European League.

Netherlands riding a 12-match winning streak in the rivalry

Finland and the Netherlands have met 70 times in men’s international Volleyball. Only Sweden (84 matches) and Poland (79) have been more frequent opponents for Finland. The all-time record stands at 24 wins for Finland and 46 for the Netherlands. 

The teams last met at the CEV EuroVolley 2021 in Tampere, where the Netherlands defeated Finland 3-1. Four Finnish players from that match are still on the current roster: Antti Ronkainen, Niko Suihkonen, Voitto Köykkä, and Aaro Nikula. From the Dutch squad that played in Tampere, Fabian Plak and Twan Wiltenburg now return to the neighbouring city of Nokia.

The Netherlands have won the last 12 matches in a row between the teams. Finland’s most recent victory came 13 years ago at the European Championship in Denmark, where they defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in Herning.

The game in Nokia will be the no. 1’438 international match in Finnish national team history. Finland’s all-time record currently stands at 686 wins and 751 losses.