Polish volleyball players are sporting pride! The space series has become a fact

There are many indications that this year’s European Championships will be another event from which Poles will leave with a medal around their necks. It is also no secret that coach Nikola Grbic’s team will aim for the final triumph. After all, we are talking about the leaders of the world ranking (FIVB), who have been going from success to success in recent years.

Great series by Polish volleyball players! This is the eleventh success in a row

If you look at the last few years, you could always count on volleyball players. The advancement to the semi-finals of the European Championship 2026 became the eleventh such advancement in a row, taking into account the most important events in which the Polish national team took part or is taking part.

This series began during the term of office of the previous coach, Vital Heynen. The Belgian won the bronze medal at the European Championship 2021 with the Polish team. Previously, however, he failed to overcome the “quarterfinal curse” at the Olympic tournament in Tokyo (2021). It was also the last time when Polish volleyball players were outside the semi-final zone in the competition for the stake.

And the year is 2026! Suffice it to say that coach Grbic continues his great series, bringing home a medal from each subsequent event. It seems that it will be similar during the European Championship 2026, although the decisive decisions will have to be postponed. First, the semi-final on Friday (i.e. September 25), and then the medal game on Saturday (i.e. September 26).

Results of the Polish national volleyball team in 2021-26

Olympic Games

• 2nd place (2024)

World Championships

• 2nd place (2022)

• 3rd place (2025)

European Championships

• 3rd place (2021)

• 1st place (2023)

Nations League (VNL)

• 3rd place (2022)

• 1st place (2023)

• 3rd place (2024)

• 1st place (2025)

• 1st place (2026)

However, it can already be said that Polish volleyball players simply do not disappoint. And the results that we have become accustomed to in volleyball in Poland arouse great admiration – in terms of regularity – among foreign observers.

One may even get the impression that it is greater than among national representatives. Which is quite sad, because it’s easy to get used to something good (even very good!). However, at some point there will be no sin of omission.

For now, however, it seems that Polish volleyball – at least due to the management system of the PZPS – is not threatened by such a scenario. Which is also a case that can be a model for other sports in the country.

ME 2026: The Polish national team defends the title. Where and when to watch Polish matches?

The Polish national volleyball team has won gold medals in the European Championships twice in its history. Poles won in 2009 and 2023. Historically, Poland won its first title in Turkey, and Piotr Gruszka was honored with the MVP award.

The last tournament, the 33rd edition in the history of the Men’s Volleyball Championship, was held in four countries: North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Israel and Italy. Ultimately, in the final battle in Rome, the Poles defeated the Italians 3-0. The MVP award went to Wilfredo Leon.

Looking at the entire history of the Men’s Volleyball Championships, Poland won a total of 11 medals. This is the third best result in terms of the number of Old Continent championship medals won by Polish representatives. There are two gold medals (2009, 2023), and five silver medals in a row (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983). What is even more interesting, at that time only the USSR volleyball players won the championship titles. In the years 1967-91, the Soviet Union national team won 10 titles out of 11 editions of the European Championship.

Poland won four bronze medals at the European Championships, in the editions of 1967 (the first medal for volleyball players in the history of the European Championships) and more recently – 2011, 2019 and 2021.

The matches of the European Men’s Volleyball Championship 2026 are shown on Polsat open channels (meetings of the Polish national team) and Polsat Sport. On the Internet, you can use the Polsat Box Go platform.