Alan Nine
Ticket sales have opened for the Del Monte Super Cup in Parma, while a document from 2020 has added another chapter to the debate over Noumory Keita's international future. The draw procedure for the 2027 Women's World Cup has also been confirmed, and an unbeaten clash will headline Wednesday's Women's Serie A1 programme.
SuperLega and Super Cup
Two-day passes for the Del Monte Super Cup Final Four went on sale on Tuesday. The event will be held at Parma's Pala Raschi on 14 and 15 November, with single-day tickets due to become available on 26 October.
Perugia will face Trento in the first semi-final on Saturday 14 November at 15.30, followed by Verona against Civitanova at 18.00. Both matches will be shown on Rai Sport and VBTV. The winners will meet in Sunday's final at 18.00, broadcast on Rai 2 and VBTV.
Meanwhile, a Bulgarian report has revisited Keita's national-team options. VolleyWeek published what it described as a notarised declaration signed in March 2020, when the Verona outside hitter was playing in Serbia, giving consent for a Bulgarian citizenship procedure to be started on his behalf. The outlet said the notary's office had confirmed that the declaration was authenticated there.
The document concerns permission to begin the process; it does not show that Bulgarian citizenship was ever granted. The report does not establish how far the application progressed or why it was not completed, and the suggestion that the Covid-19 pandemic may have intervened remains unconfirmed. The disclosure comes amid discussion of a possible Italian naturalisation before the 2027 World Championship.
2027 Women's World Cup
The draw for the 2027 Women's World Cup will take place in Los Angeles on Monday 26 October at 16.00 Italian time and will be streamed on Volleyball World's YouTube channel. The 32 teams will be divided into eight pools of four.
The top 16 nations in the world ranking of 2 October will be placed in the first two positions of each pool through a serpentine system. The remaining 16 teams will be drawn in two stages, while co-hosts the United States and Canada will be kept in opposite halves of the bracket. Defending champions Italy will compete in the United States and Canada from 20 August to 5 September 2027. The tournament will also award Olympic places to the three highest finishers not already qualified for Los Angeles 2028.
Women's Serie A1
Bergamo and Milano put their unbeaten starts on the line at the ChorusLife Arena on Wednesday, when the fourth round is completed with five matches. Milano have nine points from three wins and Bergamo eight, with only one point separating the two sides.
Conegliano and Scandicci have already played and won their fixtures ahead of Saturday's FIAT Super Cup in Bari. Elsewhere, third-placed Vallefoglia will chase a fourth successive victory at home to winless Cuneo, Novara host San Giovanni in Marignano, UYBA face Talmassons and Firenze meet Brescia.
Abroad: Brazil
Anastasia Guerra was named MVP on her Brazilian Superliga debut after scoring 16 points in Osasco's 3-0 win away to Brasilia BRB. The Italian outside hitter recorded 13 kills from 30 attacks, a 43 per cent success rate, and handled 22 receptions without an error. Osasco next visit Batavo Mackenzie in Belo Horizonte on Saturday.
Osasco opposite Tifanny remains provisionally eligible to play under an interim civil-court measure. The CBV said the final hearing in the separate sports-law proceeding had been moved to Friday 23 October at 10.30 because of the volume of documentation submitted and Osasco's request to join the case as an interested third party. The federation is continuing its legal attempt to overturn the interim order.
