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Ukraine produced one of the biggest upsets in the men’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 so far. As the second competition week got underway in three European cities on Wednesday, last year’s newcomers handed mighty Brazil their first defeat of the season! This year’s newcomers Belgium were also close to stunning the defending champions, but Poland pulled off a reverse sweep, enjoying their return to the top of the FIVB World Ranking, while, in another one of the day’s four five-set battles, Argentina picked up their first win in VNL 2026.
Bulgarian teen star Moni Nikolov in action against Italy
The Ljubljana pool of the second competition week in the men’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 started off with a bang! In a remake of last year’s FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, Bulgaria not only got back at Italy with a tie-breaker win, not only stripped them of their world’s number one team status, but also registered a historic success by defeating this opponent for the first time in the VNL and actually for the first time in official competition since 2015.
Japan’s Yuji Nishida in attack against Slovenia
Japan’s star opposite Yuji Nishida hit not one, but two big milestones in the men’s Volleyball Nations League as his team battled it out for a four-set win over Slovenia in Linyi on Sunday to finish the week undefeated in four matches played, while handing their European opponents their first loss of the season. While Nishida jumped over the 1000-point and the 100-ace marks in the VNL, Japan jumped over Slovenia into the number five position in the FIVB World Ranking. Earlier on Sunday in China, Poland came back from two sets down to defeat Ukraine, while the home team shut out Cuba to score their first win of VNL 2026.
Germany ended the second week of the Preliminary Phase in 11th place
The last day of matches of the second week of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026 Preliminary Phase had as many as six five-setters, and Germany were on the right side of one of them to take down the last undefeated team in the tournament on Sunday.
Coming from a five-set loss against hosts Türkiye on Saturday, the Europeans finished strong and avoided a second-straight reverse sweep to take down Brazil 3-2 (26-24, 28-26, 15-25, 19-25, 16-14) in Ankara.
Japanese players celebrate their fifth victory in the VNL 2026
Asian giants Japan counted on a fantastic performance from their captain Mayu Ishikawa to continue undefeated in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026 as the second week of the Preliminary Phase began on Wednesday.
The Asians were strongly challenged by Serbia in their first match in Pasig City, the Philippines, but they came back twice to triumph 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 18-25, 32-30, 15-7) and keep their record clean in the tournament.
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Korea Republic had the majority of the ball in Monterrey, but a Thapelo Maseko stunner clinched victory and historic progress for Bafana Bafana.
South Africa goal: Maseko (63)
It was a game that neither side could afford to lose — but it was South Africa who found a way to win.
Thanks to a second-half goal from winger Thapelo Maseko, Bafana Bafana overcame an energetic Korea Republic in an exciting, albeit low-scoring, clash to advance to their first-ever knockout match at the FIFA World Cup™.
Playing in front of a largely Korean crowd, South Africa started the better in Monterrey. Early on, Maseko had a promising fastbreak cut out at the last moment by Korea defender Lee Gihyuk. Later in the half Kim Seunggyu made two fine saves, first parrying Thalente Mbatha's shot from distance, before denying Evidence Makgopa from point-blank range.
Goals from Mateo Chavez, Julian Quinones and Alvaro Fidalgo plus an appearance for Guillermo Ochoa help co-hosts complete a perfect group stage, while Czechia's competition comes to an end.
Mexico goals: Mateo Chavez (55), Julian Quinones (61), Alvaro Fidalgo (90+4)
The momentum continues to build for Mexico, who wrapped up their FIFA World Cup 2026™ group-stage commitments with a third straight victory by confidently swatting Czechia aside 3-0. The defeat in turn means Czechia have been eliminated.
The co-hosts came into this contest already certain of top spot in Group A and a place in the Round of 32, but Czechia needed a positive result in order to stand any chance of joining El Tri in the knockout stage.
As such it was Miroslav Koubek’s side who were the more aggressive in the opening exchanges, with Denis Visinsky especially lively and fizzing a low effort just past the post in the eighth minute.
Les Grenadiers scored two historic goals before waving goodbye to the tournament, but Morocco secured the victory to continue their World Cup journey.
Morocco goals: Hakimi (39), Saibari (45+1), Rahimi (78), Yassine (89) Haiti goals: Bono own goal (10), Isidor (43)
Morocco came from behind to defeat a dogged Haiti team in their final match of group play at FIFA World Cup 2026™. The Atlas Lions suffered a huge scare with Les Grenadiers twice taking the lead but they finished with a flourish to secure the victory.
Haiti came out playing free of pressure which created an action packed first half which thrilled fans with four goals. They opened the scoring just ten minutes into the match when full back Jean-Kevin Duverne cut the ball back across the penalty area, and Lenny Joseph gave it an audacious back heel flick. The ball ricocheted in off Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou, but that did not take away from celebrations of what was Haiti's first World Cup goal in 52 years.
Haiti's goal woke up the Atlas Lions, who pushed for an equaliser and after seeing several good chances saved by Johny Placide, finally found the back of the net through Achraf Hakimi. The marauding full back bundled the ball over the line after Placide had parried away a shot from Bilal El Khannouss.
With the help of two goals from Vinicius Junior, Brazil secured top spot in Group C and left Scotland's hopes in the balance.
Brazil goals: Vinicius Junior (7, 45+3), Matheus Cunha (60)
Brazil strolled into the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Scotland at Miami Stadium.
With two first-half goals, Vinicius Junior led the way for the five-times champions who can now look forward to a Houston encounter with Group F’s runners-up on 29 June. For Scotland, by contrast, the dream of surviving the group stage for the first time remains in the balance. They sit third in the section with three points and a goal difference of minus three.
Scotland had not beaten Brazil in ten previous attempts and the size of their task grew larger in the sixth minute after a goal gift-wrapped by Scott McKenna, the centre-back brought in for his first World Cup appearance. Under pressure from Rayan, his attempted ball out from the back was blocked by the Brazilian and deflected towards Vinicius Junior who sidestepped Angus Gunn and found the net for the third game running.
Vinicius Junior then had the ball in the net a second time after robbing Jack Hendry but following a VAR review, he was adjudged to have fouled the defender.
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