The countdown to the 2026 Volleyball Nations League Finals is on: starting Wednesday, eight of the world’s best national teams will battle it out in Ningbo, China, to claim the current VNL title. Italy is among them, making its tournament debut on Thursday, July 30, at 9:00 AM (Italian time) against the United States in the quarter-finals.
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The Italian Federation has announced the 14 players heading to China: the core squad that starred in Japan during VNL Week 3 remains unchanged, as Ferdinando De Giorgi has opted to keep faith in that group.
The other quarter-final matchups will see hosts China face Japan, Slovenia take on Turkey, and Poland play Ukraine. The semi-finals will take place on Saturday, with the championship final scheduled for Sunday, August 2, starting at 1:30 PM.
The 14-man Italian squad for the Finals
(Teams in parentheses refer to the 2026/27 season).
Setters: 6. Simone Giannelli (Sir Susa Scai Perugia), 8. Riccardo Sbertoli (Itas Trentino).
Middle Blockers: 14. Gianluca Galassi (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza), 18. Giovanni Sanguinetti (Sir Susa Scai Perugia), 19. Roberto Russo (Valsa Group Modena), 20. Pardo Mati (Valsa Group Modena).
Outside Hitters: 9. Francesco Sani (Rana Verona), 12. Mattia Bottolo (Cucine Lube Civitanova), 15. Daniele Lavia (Itas Trentino), 17. Luca Porro (Valsa Group Modena).
Opposite Hitters: 16. Yuri Romanò (PGE Projekt Warszawa – POL), 23. Alessandro Bovolenta (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza). Liberos: 4. Gabriele Laurenzano (Itas Trentino), 7. Fabio Balaso (Cucine Lube Civitanova).
Finals Schedule
All matches featuring the *Azzurri* will be available to watch live on DAZN and VBTV. Match times are listed in Italian time.
Finals (Ningbo, China)
Wednesday, July 29, 09:00
Slovenia vs. Turkey
13:30
Japan vs. China
Thursday, July 30, 09:00
Italy vs. USA
13:30
Poland vs. Ukraine
Saturday, August 1, 09:00
Semifinal 1
13:30
Semifinal 2
Sunday, August 2, 09:00
3rd/4th Place Match
13:30
1st/2nd Place Match (Final)
