The Italian men's volleyball national team has announced a 30-player roster for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League, with matches scheduled across three continents. As the reigning world champions, Italy aims to build on last year's silver medal finish in the competition. Head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi has balanced experienced players with emerging talent as the squad prepares for the international schedule.
Tournament Overview
The 2026 Volleyball Nations League will take place across three weeks, with venues in Ottawa (Canada), Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Kansai (Japan), before the top eight teams advance to the finals in Ningbo, China from July 29 to August 2.
The Roster Composition
De Giorgi has assembled a 30-player squad featuring:
• Four setters: Captain Simone Giannelli, Paolo Porro, Riccardo Sbertoli, and Mattia Boninfante
• Thirteen outside hitters and opposite spikers: Including Alessandro Michieletto, Daniele Lavia, Kamil Rychlicki, Yuri Romanò, Alessandro Bovolenta, and Tommaso Guzzo
• Nine middle blockers: Featuring Gianluca Galassi and Roberto Russo among the group
• Four liberos: Led by Fabio Balaso alongside Gabriele Laurenzano, Matteo Staforini, and Domenico Pace
Tournament Schedule
Week 1 (June 10–14) – Ottawa, Canada
Italy opens the tournament in Ottawa with the first match against France on June 10. The squad will also face other top competitors during this opening week, including Germany, Turkey, and the United States.
Week 2 (June 24–28) – Ljubljana, Slovenia
After a nine-day break, Italy relocates to Slovenia for Week 2 matches in Ljubljana.
Week 3 (July 15–20) – Kansai, Japan
The preliminary round concludes in Japan before the top teams advance to the finals.
Preparing for Olympic Qualification
While the VNL carries prestige, the European Championships later in 2026 hold greater strategic importance. The tournament will award one of the final Olympic berths for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, making it a key priority for Italian volleyball.
De Giorgi has framed the VNL as an opportunity to test new solutions and manage player workloads across 12 matches spanning three continents. The 30-player roster allows tactical flexibility and rotation, particularly important given the demanding schedule with matches and travel across multiple time zones and continents.
Broadcast Information for Italian Fans
For residents following the national team, matches will be broadcast on VBTV. Fans should note that start times will vary significantly due to time zone differences across Ottawa, Ljubljana, and Kansai. Italy's opening match against France on June 10 will require attention to local broadcast times.
Looking Ahead
As world champions, Italy enters the 2026 VNL with ambitions to compete among Europe's elite teams in a tournament that serves as preparation for the Olympic qualification period. The announcement of the 30-player roster represents De Giorgi's strategy of building depth and flexibility while maintaining the core that secured Italy's world championship status.
The journey begins on June 10 in Ottawa, where De Giorgi's squad will face its first test against France.
