--- title: "Bulgaria men's volleyball team to compete in VNL 2026 in Brasília; historic silver at 2025 World Championship" sdDatePublished: "2026-05-04T12:07:00Z" source: "https://www.fivb.com/bulgaria-keen-to-build-on-historic-world-championship-breakthrough-at-vnl-2026/" topics: - name: "sport event" identifier: "medtop:20001108" - name: "sport" identifier: "medtop:15000000" - name: "sport achievement" identifier: "medtop:20001301" - name: "sports coaching" identifier: "medtop:20001323" locations: - "Bulgaria" - "Germany" - "Slovenia" - "United States" - "Ljubljana" - "Distrito Federal" - "Illinois" - "Chile" - "Italy" - "Philippines" - "Portugal" - "California" --- Bulgaria men's volleyball team to compete in VNL 2026 in Brasília; historic silver at 2025 World Championship Bulgaria keen to build on historic World Championship breakthrough at VNL 2026 – FIVB Bulgaria men’s team will enter theVolleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026with renewed confidence and a clear sense of purpose, as they prepare for their eighth consecutive appearance in the prestigious competition. Ever-present since the inaugural edition in 2018, Bulgaria have steadily worked to establish themselves among the world’s elite. While a place in the Final Phase has so far eluded them, the trajectory of the team has shifted significantly over the past year—highlighted by a historic silver medal at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. That campaign marked a defining moment for Bulgarian volleyball. Competing in the Philippines, the team delivered a series of impressive performances, beginning with a dominant group stage in which they secured straight-set victories over Germany and Chile, alongside a hard-fought five-set win against Slovenia. Their momentum continued into the knockout rounds with a 3–0 victory over Portugal, before producing one of the standout matches of the tournament—a dramatic 3–2 comeback win against the United States after trailing by two sets. Bulgaria advanced to the semifinals, where they defeated Czechia 3–1 to reach their first World Championship final in 55 years. Although they fell to Italy by the same margin in the final, the silver medal represented the nation’s first podium finish since 2006 and underlined the team’s growing competitiveness on the global stage. Bulgaria enjoyed a breakout campaign at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Bulgaria’s campaign in the Philippines marked a major step for the men’s team programme, strengthened through years of youth development and theFIVB Volleyball Empowerment Programme. FIVB has provided the Bulgaria Volleyball Federation with Equipment support totaling USD 167,000 which includes two Gerflor Taraflex 9mm floors worth USD 75,000 each. The 2022 Gerflor project has already been shipped while the 2025 project is currently in production, with shipment planned for mid-August this year. Additionally, FIVB has invested CHF 84,000 in the Coach Support project in Bulgaria with Italian head coach Gianlorenzo Blengini taking charge of their men’s national team. Appointed in 2024, the experienced Italian has played a pivotal role in shaping the team’s identity, combining a structured, methodical approach with a strong emphasis on technical development. The silver medal with Bulgaria at the 2025 FIVB World Championship added to Blengini’s rich resume that includes three Italian Serie A1 titles, two Italian Cup trophies, Olympic Games silver medal from the Rio 2016 edition and a European Championship gold medal with the Italian national team. Italian Coach Gianlorenzo Blengini has transformed Bulgaria into a formidable force in men’s volleyball Blengini’s impact was already evident during the 2025 VNL season. Although Bulgaria finished 11th overall, they recorded notable victories over higher-ranked teams including Germany, Japan, Slovenia and eventual champions Poland—results that helped build belief ahead of their World Championship campaign. As Bulgaria look ahead to VNL 2026, the focus is on translating that belief into consistency at the highest level. Leading the team is captain Aleks Grozdanov, whose performances at the 2025 FIVB World Championship earned him a place in the tournament’s Dream Team. Alongside Iliya Petkov, he provides a strong presence at the net, anchoring Bulgaria’s defensive system. In attack, Aleksandar Nikolov continues to emerge as one of the leading outside hitters in international volleyball. Also named in the 2025 FIVB World Championship Dream Team, his dynamic play will again be central to Bulgaria’s ambitions. His partnership with his younger brother, setter Simeon Nikolov, offers both creativity and efficiency, forming a key component of the team’s offensive strategy. Bulgaria’s outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov in action against Italy in the gold medal match of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Support across the roster remains equally important. Outside hitter Martin Atanasov brings stability in reception, while libero Damyan Kolev is a strong pillar in floor defence. The versatility of outside hitters Asparuh Asparuhov and Georgi Tatarov has proved invaluable to Blengini who fields them as opposites enabling Bulgaria to adapt effectively across different match situations. Bulgaria will open their VNL 2026 campaign in Brasília from 10 to 14 June, where they are set to face Belgium, Iran, Argentina and Serbia in Week 1. Week 2 will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia from 24 to 28 June, featuring matches against Italy, hosts Slovenia, Canada and Ukraine. Pool play will conclude in Chicago from 15 to 20 July, where Bulgaria will meet Poland, China, the United States and France in Week 3. Setter Simeon Nikolov will be one of Bulgaria’s key players in VNL 2026 Currently ranked ninth in the world, Bulgaria approach the upcoming VNL season with growing expectations. Beyond immediate results, the competition will also serve as a key step in preparation for the European Championship later in the summer, where a title will book them an early slot at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 while a podium finish will see them qualify for the 2027 FIVB World Cup. With a talented generation of players, experienced leadership, and the continued support of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Programme, Bulgaria are no longer simply participants in the VNL. In 2026, they arrive as a team ready to challenge—aiming not only to reach the Final Phase for the first time, but to establish themselves as consistent contenders on the global stage. 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