The first round of the U18 Women’s Zonal Qualifiers for the 2026 CEV European Championship will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 13 to 17 January 2026, bringing together some of the most promising young volleyball talents from the Balkan zone.
Organised by the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, the tournament will be held at the Hristo Botev Hall, with seven national teams competing for a place in the next stage of the qualification process: Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Serbia, Kosovo, Türkiye and Montenegro.
Competition Format and Pools
The teams have been divided into two pools. Pool A consists of Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo and Montenegro, while Pool B features Türkiye, Serbia and Romania. Following the pool phase, teams will advance to crossover semifinals, classification matches and the final, which is scheduled for 17 January.
Due to the different number of teams in each pool, additional classification matches will be played to determine the overall standings, including a match for 5th place on 16 January.
Match Schedule Highlights
The tournament will open on 13 January, with Greece facing Montenegro, followed by Bulgaria vs. Kosovo and Romania vs. Türkiye. The pool phase will continue through 15 January, while the decisive crossover matches and semifinals are scheduled for 16 January. The final match, which will crown the tournament winner, will be played on 17 January at 15:30 local time.
High Stakes on the Road to the European Championship
The importance of this tournament goes far beyond the trophy. The team finishing first in the final standings will qualify directly for the CEV U18 Women’s European Championship 2026, which will be hosted by Latvia and Lithuania. Meanwhile, the next four teams in the overall ranking will continue their European journey in the second round of qualifications, keeping their hopes of continental participation alive.
With qualification on the line and Europe’s biggest youth stage within reach, the Sofia tournament promises high-level competition, intense matches and a valuable international experience for the next generation of Balkan volleyball stars.
1st Round Zonal Qualifications U18 Women European Championship 2026