Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023: Preview, full schedule and how to watch

The top players in men’s volleyball will be in action from 6 June to 23 July in the fifth edition of the FIVB Men’s Nations League.

Sixteen teams have qualified for the annual international competition, with Tokyo 2020 gold medallists France trying to defend their title following a thrilling five-set win against the United States in Bologna, Italy, last summer.

The favourites to lift the VNL trophy also include 2021 winners Brazil, two-time runners-up USA (2019, 2022), reigning World and European champions Italy, and Poland, the current top-ranked team in the world.

After winning the 2022 Challenger Cup, Cuba has replaced Australia to become the latest addition to the tournament. Alongside Bulgaria, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Netherlands and Slovenia, they are part of the six nations that could be relegated, unlike the remaining ten ‘core’ teams.

Gdańsk, Poland, will host the final round of the competition from 6 to 23 July. The preliminary pool phase, consisting of 12 matches over three different weeks, will be held in six cities: Ottawa (Canada), Nagoya (Japan), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Orleans (France), Anaheim (USA) and Pasay City (Philippines).

Read on to discover more about the competition format, schedule, participating teams, and standout players to watch.

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Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023: Format

The men's tournament follows exactly the same structure as the women's competition: 16 teams are divided into two pools, which are rearranged in each of the three weekly phases.

The top eight teams in the standings at the end of the preliminary pool phase will advance to the final round.

The draw for the knockout stages (quarterfinals, semi-finals, final) will be determined by the teams' rankings. Poland automatically qualifies for the Finals as host country.

Men's VNL 2023 - Teams and stars to watch

In brackets the current world ranking

• Poland (1): Currently ranked as the number one team in the world, Nikola Grbic's squad boasts exceptional outside hitters including Wilfredo Leon, Tomasz Fornal, Kamil Semeniuk, Bartosz Bednorz, and Aleksander Sliwka. After securing a silver medal in the last World Championship held at home, Poland aim to clinch their first title since the 2018 World Championships.
• Italy (2): As reigning World and European champions, Italy are expected to make a really deep run in the competition after finishing fourth last year. Setter Simone Giannelli and opposite hitter Alessandro Michieletto are the standout players on a team highly favoured to win medals both in Poland and the upcoming Euros.
• France (3): Defending champions with 2022 MVP Earvin N'Gapeth leading the way, France also feature Olympic gold medalists Jenia Grebennikov and Barthelemy Chinenyeze. Les Bleus aim to reach the podium for the fourth time in five editions. Under coach Andrea Giani's guidance, they will rely on a new generation of young talents, including 21-year-old setter Kellian Motta Paes.
• Brazil (4): The reigning world bronze medalists, Brazil seek redemption after a sixth-place finish last year. Led by veteran setter Bruno Rezende, along with spikers Flavio Gualberto and Lucas Saatkamp, the team coached by Renan Dal Zotto is determined to make a strong comeback. Aboubacar 'Abouba' Dramé, a promising opposite hitter, is one of the new faces in the Brazilian lineup.
• United States (6): Silver medalists in 2022, the United States want to secure a major tournament victory for the first time since 2015. The team boasts a formidable roster, including surprise addition opposite hitter Matt Anderson, middle blocker Max Holt, and Micah Christenson, the 2022 FIVB Nations League's best setter. Thomas Jaeschke and Torey DeFalco bring additional firepower to the three-time VNL medallists.
• Japan (7): With superstars Ishikawa Yuki and Nishida Yuji, along with Takahashi Ran, leading the charge, Japan return with a highly technical and fast-paced team that finished fifth in 2022. Despite a lack of tall blockers, Philippe Blain's squad poses a serious threat to the world's best teams.

Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023 - Teams and Rosters

Teams

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• People's Republic of China
• Cuba
• France
• Germany
• Iran
• Italy
• Japan
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• United States

You can find the updated rosters here.

History of the Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL)

Since the introduction of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in 2018, Russia have won the first two editions after defeating France and the United States in the final.

In 2020 the tournament didn't take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and when it resumed in 2021, Brazil and France secured the last two titles.

Here's a medal summary of the men's competition:

• Russia: 2 golds
• France: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
• Brazil: 1 gold
• United States: 2 silvers, 1 bronze
• Poland: 1 silver, 2 bronzes

Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023: Schedule

Preliminary round

• 6 - 11 June (Week 1):

Pool 1 in Ottawa, Canada (Canada, Cuba, United States, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, Italy, Brazil)

Pool 2 in Nagoya Japan (Japan, Slovenia, France, Poland, Serbia, China, Bulgaria, Iran)

• 20 - 25 June (Week 2):

Pool 3 in Rotterdam, Netherlands (Netherlands, United States, Poland, Iran, Italy, Germany, Serbia, China)

Pool 4 in Orleans, France (France, Cuba, Brazil, Japan, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Argentina, Canada)

• 4 - 10 July (Week 3):

Pool 5 in Anaheim, United States (United States, Iran, Argentina, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Serbia, Cuba)

Pool 6 in Pasay City, Philippines (Japan, Poland, China, Italy, Slovenia, Netherlands, Brazil, Canada)

Final round

• 19 - 23 July

Finals in Gdańsk, Poland

• 19-20 July Quarterfinals
• 22 July Semifinals
• 23 July Final

A detailed day-to-day schedule can be found here.

How to watch the Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023

All the matches of the 2023 Men's VNL will be streamed live on VBTV.