The last preliminary week of the 2026 Women’s Volleyball Nations League lived up to the hype. In a three-city, five-day scramble, eight teams fought for a ticket to the Finals in Macao, while one team fought to avoid relegation from the competition altogether. Week 3 was played July 8-12 in Osaka (Japan), Hong Kong (China), and Belgrade (Serbia), and both questions had brutal, dramatic answers by the time the last ball dropped on Sunday.
Here’s the complete schedule, results, and final standings for Women’s VNL 2026 Week 3—plus everything you need to know heading into the Macao Finals.
2026 Women's VNL Week 3: Quick Overview
- Dates: July 8–12, 2026
- Host cities: Osaka, Japan · Hong Kong, China · Belgrade, Serbia
- Matches played: 36 matches across the three pools
- Stakes: Final seven Finals spots (China already qualified as host) and the 18th-place relegation battle
- Finals venue: Macau East Asian Games Dome, Macao, China — July 22–26, 2026
Women's VNL 2026 Week 3 Pools and Host Cities
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Pool 9 — Osaka, Japan
United States, Brazil, Poland, Japan, Türkiye, Thailand
Pool 8 — Hong Kong, China
China, Canada, Italy, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Ukraine
Pool 7 — Belgrade, Serbia
Serbia, Netherlands, Czechia, Germany, Bulgaria, France
Osaka was theoretically the toughest pool of the tournament since five of the six top teams in the standings were in the same court, with the USA topping the pack, followed by Brazil, Poland, Japan, and Türkiye in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth spots. Also in the same court was the 14th-ranked Thailand
Women's VNL 2026 Week 3 Schedule and Results
USA vs Thailand, USA vs Poland, USA vs Türkiye, USA vs Brazil
The United States entered Week 3 sitting atop the standings at 7-1 and closed out their preliminary campaign in Osaka against Thailand, Poland, Türkiye, and finally Brazil on the tournament's last day.
Japan vs Poland
The most dramatic match of the entire week came in Osaka, where Japan and Poland fought for the final finals berth. Japan pulled off a reverse sweep, winning 3-2 (20-25, 14-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-13) to qualify in sixth place with eight wins and 21 points, denying Poland a spot in Macao.
Canada vs Dominican Republic
In Hong Kong, Canada beat the Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 25-18) on the final day to lock up fifth place in the standings with eight wins and 24 points — the best Nations League finish in Canadian women's volleyball history.
Ukraine vs Belgium
Also in Hong Kong, Ukraine—competing in their first-ever VNL campaign—beat Belgium in straight sets to close out their debut season.
France vs Czechia, Serbia vs Bulgaria, Netherlands vs France
Belgrade hosted the week's tensest relegation battle. Czechia edged France 3-2 in a five-set thriller to finish tenth, while Bulgaria's loss to Germany — combined with Ukraine's win over Belgium elsewhere — confirmed Bulgaria's relegation from the Nations League after finishing 18th.
China vs Italy
In Hong Kong, Italy beat host China 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 25-22, 12-25, 12-15) to close out the preliminary phase with their tenth win, securing second place overall. China still advances to Macao as the automatic host qualifier despite the loss.
Women's VNL 2026 Final Standings After Week 3
The preliminary phase concluded with the United States finishing first overall after a straight-sets win over Brazil (26-24, 25-22, 25-16) in the head-to-head clash for top spot. Here's how the final standings shook out for the eight teams heading to Macao:
- United States — 10 wins, 29 points
- Italy — 10 wins
- Brazil — 9 wins
- Türkiye
- Canada — 8 wins, 24 points
- Japan — 8 wins, 21 points
- Netherlands
- China (host qualifier)
Just outside the cut: Poland missed the finals after their five-set loss to Japan on the final day, while Czechia finished tenth after beating France in Belgrade. At the bottom of the table, Bulgaria finished 18th and were relegated from the Nations League, with the highest-ranked eligible team from the FIVB World Rankings set to take their place in 2027.
Women's VNL 2026 Quarterfinal Matchups (Macao Finals)
With the final standings locked in, the quarterfinal draw for the Macao Finals is set:
- United States (1st) vs China (8th, host)
- Italy (2nd) vs Netherlands (7th)
- Brazil (3rd) vs Japan (6th)
- Türkiye (4th) vs Canada (5th)
The finals run from July 22 to 26 at the Macau East Asian Games Dome, with eight matches total across the five days: four quarterfinals, two semifinals, a bronze-medal match, and the gold-medal final. Italy—the back-to-back defending champions—open proceedings against the Netherlands, while Brazil and Japan meet in the day's second quarterfinal.
Standout Performers From Week 3
The United States were led by Avery Skinner, who put up 21 points in the decisive win over Brazil, with Jordan Thompson adding 16. Canada's campaign was powered by Kiera Van Ryk, who finished the preliminary round as one of the tournament's top scorers and attackers. In Hong Kong, Italy's Ekaterina Antropova was a standout in the win over China, finishing with 28 points, while Japan's Yukiko Wada delivered 27 points—including 26 kills—in the reverse-sweep win over Poland that sealed her team's Finals spot.
What's Next: The Road to Macao
With the preliminary phase complete, attention now shifts fully to the Macao Finals from July 22–26—the first time in 15 years the Women's VNL Finals have been staged in Macao. The winner takes home a $1 million prize, with China hosting as both organizer and one of the eight qualified national teams. For the eight qualifiers, the format is unforgiving: a team must win three consecutive knockout matches to be crowned champion.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Week 3 of the 2026 Women's VNL played?
Week 3 ran from July 8–12, 2026, across three host cities: Osaka, Japan; Hong Kong, China; and Belgrade, Serbia.
Which teams qualified for the 2026 Women's VNL Finals?
Eight teams qualified: United States, Italy, Brazil, Türkiye, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, and host nation China.
Which team finished first in the Women's VNL 2026 preliminary phase?
The United States finished first with 10 wins and 29 points, clinching top spot with a straight-sets win over Brazil in the final round in Osaka.
Which team was relegated from the Women's VNL after 2026?
Bulgaria finished 18th and last in the final standings and was relegated from the Nations League. They will be replaced in 2027 by the highest-ranked eligible team in the FIVB World Rankings.
Did Poland qualify for the 2026 Women's VNL Finals?
No. Poland lost a five-set thriller to Japan on the final day of Week 3 (20-25, 14-25, 25-19, 25-21, and 15-13), and Japan took the sixth and final Finals spot instead.
Where and when are the 2026 Women's VNL Finals?
The Finals are held at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Macao, China, from July 22–26, 2026 — the first time in 15 years the women's finals have returned to Macao.
What are the quarterfinal matchups for the 2026 Women's VNL Finals?
United States vs. China, Italy vs Netherlands, Brazil vs Japan, and Türkiye vs Canada.
How does the Women's VNL qualification format work?
Eighteen teams play three weeks of preliminary matches (12 total matches per team). The top seven teams by points advance to the finals alongside the automatically qualified host nation, forming an eight-team knockout bracket.
Which quarterfinal are you most excited to watch in Macao? Let me know in the comments, and check back for the full finals recap once the medals are decided.