Brazil defeats Italy 3-2 in Women's Nations League match

Brazil beat Italy 3‑2 in the final match of Week 1 of the 2026 Women’s Nations League in Brasília’s Nilson Nelson Arena, ending Italy’s 39‑match winning streak. The South American side secured the victory in a tie‑break after rallying from a two‑set deficit, with the final set ending 15‑12 before a crowd of roughly 10,000 spectators.

Italy finished the week with three wins (against Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Turkey) and one loss, while Brazil moved to the top of the provisional table with a perfect record of four wins. Coach Julio Velasco praised his young squad’s resilience, saying, “Ne avevamo parlato prima della partita che questa era una sfida che si poteva perdere o vincere ma nel corso della partita non avremmo mai dovuto mollare.” The match highlighted the development of Italy’s emerging players, including 22‑year‑old Merit Adigwe, under Velasco’s direction.

The win places Brazil in the lead heading into the Finals in Macau, while Italy remains a strong contender for the later stages of the competition.