Japan U17 women's volleyball team arrives in Chile for Championship

The Japanese U17 women's volleyball squad became the first international delegation to land in Chile, arriving on 25 July 2026 ahead of the 2026 FIVB World Championship. The tournament, scheduled for 6–16 August across Ñuñoa, San Felipe and Los Andes, will feature 23 national teams, with Japan placed in Group C alongside Brazil, Argentina, Poland, Croatia and Spain.

Japan's early arrival is part of a preparation plan that includes friendly matches in Temuco and Copiapó to acclimatise to local conditions and fine‑tune tactics before the competition begins. Ticket sales for the event have already surpassed 11,000 a month in advance, reflecting strong public interest.

The championship will be hosted primarily at the Parque Estadio Nacional’s Centre for Contact Sports in Ñuñoa, with additional venues in San Felipe and Los Andes. Japan’s presence adds a high‑profile contender to the tournament, which aims to showcase emerging talent in women's volleyball worldwide.