Poland wins third VNL title as Slovenia secures first medal

In a thrilling finale of the 2026 Men’s Volleyball Nations League, world‑number‑one Poland reclaimed the championship by edging the United States 3‑2. Poland opened the match with a 25‑21 first set, then clinched the next two sets 25‑23 and 27‑25, pushing the Americans to the brink.

The fourth set was deadlocked at 20‑20 before Poland’s outside hitter Tomas Fornal delivered a decisive serve, helping his side capture the set 25‑23. In the deciding fifth set, after a 5‑5 tie, Poland surged ahead, exploiting American attacking errors to finish 15‑10, securing their third VNL crown.

On the women’s side, Slovenia earned its inaugural VNL medal by defeating Japan 3‑1 (25‑21, 26‑28, 25‑22, 25‑22) in the bronze‑medal match, marking a historic achievement for the Slovenian program.