---
title: "Poland defends VNL title in Macau; Ukraine rookies reach first quarter-final"
sdDatePublished: "2026-07-27T16:11:00Z"
source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/men-s-volleyball-nations-league-vnl-finals-in-macau-china-teams-in-action-full-schedule-and-how-to-watch-live"
topics:
  - name: "volleyball"
    identifier: "medtop:20001089"
  - name: "sport event"
    identifier: "medtop:20001108"
  - name: "sport achievement"
    identifier: "medtop:20001301"
  - name: "sport"
    identifier: "medtop:15000000"
locations:
  - "China"
  - "Île-de-France"
---


Poland defends VNL title in Macau; Ukraine rookies reach first quarter-final

Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals in Macau, China: Teams in action, full schedule and how to watch live

Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals in Macau, China: Teams in action, full schedule and how to watch live

Reigning champions, record breakers, Olympic medallists and VNL Final rookies are all in the mix as the VNL reaches its knockout stages on 29 July - 2 August.

The conclusion of the Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals takes place this weekend in Macau, China.

Over four days from 29 July – 2 August, eight teams will compete in the knockout stages to crown the 2026 VNL title.

After Türkiye ’s women’s team lifted their second VNL title on Sunday (26 July), the men will be hoping for a Türkiye title sweep in their first appearance at the VNL Finals.

In the quarter-finals, they face a Slovenia team who have reached the semi-final stage on three occasions since their VNL debut in 2021.

Hosts China are up against Japan , a team in historic form.

They completed a perfect VNL Preliminary Phase, becoming the first men’s team in competition history to walk away with 12 wins in 12 matches . After medalling twice as bronze and silver winners in the past, they are looking for gold this time around.

The current holders of that VNL gold are 2025 champions Poland, who begin their Finals defence with VNL rookies Ukraine in their first quarter-final appearance.

Elsewhere, it is a replay of Paris 2024 ’s bronze medal match between the USA and reigning world champions Italy. In the French capital, the USA beat the Italians for Olympic bronze.

Men's Volleyball Nations League Finals in Macau: Full schedule

Slovenia vs Türkiye – 15:00 Japan vs China – 19:30

Italy vs U.S. – 15:00 Poland vs Ukraine – 19:30

Semi-final 1 – 15:00 Semi-final 2 – 19:30

Third-place playoff – 15:00 Final – 19:30

How to watch Men’s Volleyball Nations League Finals live?

You can catch all the live action from the Men’s VNL on VBTV .