Alan Nine
The proposed overhaul of the international volleyball calendar dominated the latest news on Volleyball.it, while Italy’s senior and youth national teams continued their preparations and tournament campaigns.
With both European Championships approaching, Italy’s men’s Under-20 team secured a place in the decisive WEVZA final, while the Under-17 side began their World Championship title defence with a straight-sets victory.
International Calendar
A draft calendar for 2027-2033, currently being presented by the FIVB to clubs, leagues and national federations, proposes a major change from 2028: international competitions would be staged in the middle of the domestic club season.
Under the proposed men’s calendar, the 2028/29 club season would run from August 26 to November 15, followed by a two-week international window and the Continental Cup, scheduled from November 30 to December 17. Similar breaks in November and December would be introduced in subsequent seasons.
The women’s club calendar would instead be interrupted mainly between January and February. In 2029, for example, an international window from January 4 to 17 would be followed by the Continental Cup from January 18 to February 4, with domestic competitions resuming on February 5.
The proposal would also move the Club World Championship to May from 2029 onwards. The Volleyball Nations League would remain in the summer but, in non-Olympic years, would be divided into four five-day competition windows.
Women’s EuroVolley
Italy continued their preparations in Gothenburg ahead of their opening match at the 2026 Women’s European Championship.
Julio Velasco’s team will face Croatia at the Scandinavium on Friday, August 21 at 16:00. The Azzurre have been drawn in Pool D alongside Croatia, Montenegro, Sweden, Slovakia and France, with their five group matches scheduled between August 21 and 26.
The tournament will run from August 21 to September 6, featuring 24 national teams and a total of 76 matches. More than 40 broadcasters will provide coverage across 33 territories. In Italy, both the women’s and men’s European Championships will be shown by RAI, Sky and DAZN.
The women’s semifinals and final will be held in Istanbul, with the European champions also securing a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Men’s EuroVolley
Italy’s men have completed their training camp in Verona, where more than 2,000 supporters attended an open session at Pala Magis.
Ferdinando De Giorgi’s team are preparing for their European Championship opener against Sweden, which will be played on September 10 in Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples.
Before the tournament, Italy will compete in the FIPAV Cup Men Elite, facing Germany in Reggio Calabria on August 26, followed by matches against Cuba on August 28 and Brazil on August 30 in Messina. All three Italian matches will be broadcast by RAI Sport and Sky Sport.
The Men’s European Championship will take place from September 9 to 26, with Milan hosting the semifinals and final.
Youth International
Italy advanced to the final of the WEVZA qualifying tournament for the 2027 Men’s Under-20 European Championship with a 3-1 victory over hosts Germany in Frankfurt.
Mario Di Pietro’s team won 25-21, 20-25, 25-22 and 25-22 and will face France in the final on Thursday, August 20 at 19:00. Only the tournament winners will qualify directly for the European Championship final round in Croatia and Montenegro.
German Khotsevitch led Italy with 19 points, while Jacopo Tosti and captain Pietro Carrera contributed 12 apiece.
At the Men’s Under-17 World Championship in Doha, defending champions Italy began their Pool B campaign with a 3-0 victory over Romania, winning 26-24, 25-22 and 25-21.
Guiotto finished as the match’s leading scorer with 16 points, while Filippi added 10. Francesco Conci’s team will next face India on August 21 before completing the group stage against Cuba on August 23.
International and Italian Clubs
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza will begin preseason training at PalabancaSport on Monday, August 24 under head coach Dante Boninfante. The club’s first open training session is scheduled for August 27.
In Poland, Brazilian opposite Alan Souza has joined Bełchatów for the 2026/27 season, returning for his second campaign with the club.
Germany’s Berlin Recycling Volleys have completed their roster with the signing of Romanian opposite Alexandru Rață and an additional American player.
Beach Volleyball
Italian champions Alex Ranghieri and Manuel Alfieri were eliminated in the opening qualifying round of the Beach Pro Tour Elite16 in Montreal.
The Italian pair lost 15-21, 22-20, 16-14 to Americans Timothy Brewster and Logan Webber, missing out on a place in the main draw.
