Italy is there, of course. Last Wednesday our tireless Azzurre beat Sweden in a hard-fought match, reaching the semi-final of the 2026 European Women’s Volleyball Championships with great determination. After losing the first set, Julio Velasco’s team reacted like a great team, turning the game around by closing in four sets: 21-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-23. A heavy victory, which arrived in the decisive moments, which brings Italy among the best four in Europe and further fuels the dream of the continental title.
The decisive phase of the tournament now moves to Istanbul, where the Final Four will be staged on 5 and 6 September. In the semi-final Italy will meet Poland, in a match that qualifies for access to the final.
Italy-Poland, the European final is up for grabs
For Italy it is the fourth consecutive European semi-final, a result that confirms the continuity at the highest level of a national team now firmly at the top of the world. The Italians, Olympic champions in Paris 2024 and reigning world champions, are now chasing the European title, already won three times in their history (the last time in 2021).
On Saturday 5 September, at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall in Istanbul, Velasco’s team will therefore face Poland in an inside or outside challenge. After the Olympic and world gold, Italy can continue to chase an extraordinary trio of international titles.
What’s at stake, however, isn’t just the continental title. In fact, the national team that wins EuroVolley 2026 will also gain a direct quota for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic tournament, making the path to the top step of the podium even more important.
Where to watch Italy-Poland on TV and streaming
The semi-final between Italy and Poland is scheduled for Saturday 5 September at 18:00 (Italian time), while the final will be the following day. The matches of the 2026 European Women’s Volleyball Championships are broadcast on Sky Sport channels and streamed on Sky Go, NOW, DAZN and EuroVolley TV. Italy’s matches can also be seen free-to-air on the Rai 2 channels and in streaming on RaiPlay.
