Celebrating 2022: Volleyball Nations League

2022 saw the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) return to wow fans across the globe with the world’s best women’s and men’s teams in action and on the hunt for VNL glory.

Today, the FIVB looks back at some of the defining moments of the VNL’s fourth edition, from a brand-new format with spectators back in the stands to crowning new champions and learning which challenger teams will compete in 2023.

France and USA clashed in the gold medal match of the VNL Finals 2022

This year’s VNL offered even more opportunities for fans to witness electrifying volleyball action with the introduction of a new format – 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams competing in pools of eight teams, with eight teams per gender advancing to the knockout phase. The format allowed both genders to play over the weekends, reduced travel and ensured the teams, fans and spectators had the opportunity to enjoy the very best of volleyball in stunning locations across the globe.

The women’s edition saw teams compete across the United States, Turkey, Brazil, Philippines, Canada and Bulgaria before the top eight teams touched down in Ankara, Turkey for the Finals. The US, Brazil, Italy, China, Japan, Serbia, Turkey and for the first time ever Thailand, completed the line-up.

Brazil and Italy battled for women’s VNL champions titles this year

Meanwhile, the men’s competition visited Brazil, Canada, Philippines, Bulgaria, Japan and Poland for the pool phase. The Finals saw world-class volleyball action return to Italy after the country hosted last year’s bubble edition in Rimini. This time, however, it was Bologna’s turn to host spectacular VNL action with Italy, Poland, the US, France, Japan, Brazil, Iran and the Netherlands.

Crowning the Champions

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 champions France returned to action in fine form following the team’s historic Olympic gold. It would be history in the making again for France, who forced a strong US side – which had knocked out VNL 2021 champions Brazil and 2014 and 2018 world champions Poland enroute to the final – to settle for silver with a 3-2 win.

Reigning Olympic champions France added VNL gold to its medal collection

Poland, meanwhile, completed the podium by shutting out hosts Italy 3-0 to take bronze and collect its third VNL medal since the tournament’s inception in 2018.

It was also a first-ever VNL title in the women’s edition, with Italy overcoming Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Brazil 3-0 in the final. The team’s strong performance, led by Italian star opposite Paola Egonu tallying 21 points, saw the South American side just miss out on gold for the third consecutive VNL.

Italy women’s team take first-ever VNL title

Bronze went to reigning world champions Serbia (a title the country would regain in the 2022 World Championships held later in the year) after a 3-0 win over Türkiye.

Volleyball Challenger Cup

The Croatia women’s national team and Cuba men’s national team are set to make their debut appearances at next year’s VNL 2023 after triumphing in this year’s Volleyball Challenger Cup. The event featured eight women’s national teams playing in Zadar, Croatia, and eight men’s squads competing in Seoul, Korea.

Croatia celebrate Volleyball Challenger Cup gold in front of a home crowd

Croatia took full advantage of hosting the women’s tournament, overcoming Belgium 3-1 in the gold medal match to the delight of the home fans. Puerto Rico defeated Colombia 3-1 to take bronze.

@Link - https://www.instagram.com/p/CgrCsWLITAg/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=49ef56d4-dc93-4e21-80f4-83e843524f5a

Meanwhile, Cuba booked its place in next year’s VNL by toppling Türkiye in the men’s Volleyball Challenger Cup final. Hosts Korea took bronze in a dramatic five-setter against the Czech Republic.

Equal Jersey returns

The VNL 2022 also saw the return of the Equal Jersey campaign – a special edition jersey featuring a player’s own name and that of a player of the opposite gender – to champion gender equality through the power of volleyball.

Fans can still grab their own Equal Jersey at the Volleyball World online store, with part of the proceeds going directly to Let’s Keep the Ball Flying, the non-profit organisation set-up to leverage the power of volleyball to reach equality.