You can watch all matches from U17 Men Balkan Championship 2026 on Official Facebook Page of Volleyball Federation Albania:
The 2026 Balkan Championship for Youth U17 (Men) is set to kick off in Tirana, Albania, running from August 4th to 8th.
The tournament will be hosted and organized by the Volleyball Federation of Albania (FSHV). Matches will take place at the “Farka Volley Hall” in Tirana.
Six national teams will take part in the championship, divided into two pools:
- Pool A: Albania, Serbia, Romania
- Pool B: Bulgaria, Turkiye, Kosovo
The competition will be played according to the Berger system within the pools (August 4–6), followed by the placement rounds — semifinals for positions 1–4 (August 7), and the final ranking matches, including the final for Chmapionship title, the match for bronze medal, and the match for 5th–6th place (August 8).
Players born on or after January 1st, 2010 are eligible to participate in this event.
Match schedule and standings:
Preparations for this year’s U20 Women’s Balkan Volleyball Championship are in full swing in Mostar, where the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national team continues to train ahead of the tournament, which will be held from August 19 to 23. The team trains twice a day, while excellent team spirit, unity and motivation continue to define the preparation period for one of the Balkan region’s most important youth events.
The players and coaching staff received a visit by Anita Glibić, President of the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who emphasised that hosting the championship is one of the Federation’s most significant projects for the development of Volleyball in the country.
Mostar at the heart of European Volleyball
“Welcoming eight national teams to Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a major promotion of both our country and our sport. I am especially pleased that Mostar is hosting this event because I believe it will bring new energy, strengthen confidence in Volleyball and mark the beginning of a new chapter for our sport,” said Glibić.
She stressed that organising a championship of this level requires meeting high European standards and expressed confidence that Bosnia and Herzegovina will once again demonstrate its ability to successfully host major international sporting events. “We want to present Mostar as a city of sport, culture and tourism while showcasing the beauty of our country to all visitors. I am confident that we will prove ourselves to be outstanding hosts,” she added.
Preparations in full swing
National coach Ilijana Dugandžić expressed satisfaction with the team’s commitment and the progress achieved so far. “Twenty-seven players are currently taking part in the training camp, showing great dedication and professionalism. In the coming days we will enter the final phase of our preparations. This project is extremely important for Mostar, Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. Our goal is not only to achieve a good result but also to inspire more young girls to take up Volleyball and help restore the sport to the position it deserves,” said Dugandžić.
Coach Saša Slijepčević highlighted that, for the first time, the national team has sufficient time to prepare properly for an international competition. “We are following a clearly defined training programme with two practice sessions each day. Having more than three weeks of preparation is a major advantage compared to previous years. The players have adapted exceptionally well, and I believe we will be fully prepared when the championship begins,” he said.
The U20 Balkan Volleyball Championship will bring together the national teams of Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Türkiye. The tournament will also serve as the first qualification round for the 2027 European Championship in this age category, while the organisers believe it will further confirm Mostar’s and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ability to host major international Volleyball events.
MOSTAR, July 27, 2026 – The Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s U20 National Volleyball team has gathered in Mostar, where it has officially begun preparations for the U20 Balkan Volleyball Championship, which will take place in the city on the Neretva river from August 19 to 23, 2026.
The championship is one of the most important youth volleyball competitions in the region and also serves as the first qualification round for the 2027 European Championship. A total of nine national teams, members of the Balkan Volleyball Association (BVA), will compete, with eligibility limited to players born in 2008 or later.
Mostar to host a prestigious international competition
The Bosnia and Herzegovina U20 national team will spend nearly a month in Mostar preparing for the championship under the guidance of head coach Saša Slijepčević from Gacko and assistant coach Ilijana Dugandžić from Čapljina, ensuring the team is fully prepared for the opening matches.
This sporting event carries special significance, as Mostar will host an international volleyball tournament of this level for the very first time, making it the first competition of its kind ever staged in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hosting the championship marks an important step forward in the development of volleyball and further confirms that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the capacity to successfully organize major international sporting events.
The first step towards the 2027 European championship
“We are proud that Bosnia and Herzegovina will welcome the region’s most talented young volleyball players. Excellent training conditions have been provided in Mostar, and I believe this championship will give a significant boost to the development of volleyball while providing additional motivation for our young athletes,” said Anita Glibić, president of the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The championship is organized by the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the University Volleyball club Mostar serves as the technical organizer.
The U20 Balkan Volleyball Championship will provide Bosnia and Herzegovina with an excellent opportunity to showcase its ability to host major international sporting events, while also giving the country’s young volleyball players the chance to take their first step towards qualification for the 2027 European Championship in front of a home crowd.