Italy’s volleyball squads advance in U17 World Cup, U18 beach tourney and VNL 2026

On July 13 the Under‑17 women’s World Cup opened in Brno, Czech Republic. Italy was drawn in Group D with Canada, New Zealand and Egypt; all four teams advance to the round‑of‑16, where the Azzurre could meet Japan, Czechia, Slovenia or Colombia.

At the Under‑18 beach‑volleyball World Championships in The Hague, Netherlands, the Italian men’s pair Jack Bernardini and Federico Viscuso topped Group C and qualified directly for the quarter‑finals, while the women’s duo Margherita Coretti and Micol Lafuenti finished second in Group E and moved on to the round of 16. Bernardini/Viscuso later fell to Norway in the quarter‑finals; Coretti/Lafuenti were eliminated by Canada in the round of 16.

In the Volleyball Nations League 2026, Italy’s senior women defeated Belgium 3‑0 in Hong Kong, securing their eighth win and keeping qualification for the Finals in Macau alive. The team will face Canada next.