VCC champions to join expanded VNL from 2025 onwards
Linyi, China and Manila, the Philippines will welcome the world for the final editions of the Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup (VCC) in 2024, from 4 to 7 July. The stakes are high as teams battle for a spot in the revamped Volleyball Nations League (VNL) beginning in 2025.
The Men’s VCC will unfold in Linyi, a newcomer to the international volleyball hosting scene, located in the south of Shandong province. The host nation, China, will be joined by Mexico, winners of the 2023 NORCECA International League Final Four, Egypt (CAVB) and Chile (CSV), both qualifying through the FIVB World Ranking at the end of the last national team season.
Meanwhile, the Women’s VCC will head to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, the vibrant capital of the Philippines, for its grand finale. The Philippine team will compete alongside Puerto Rico, winners of the NORCECA International League Final Four 2023, Kenya (CAVB) and Argentina (CSV), who qualified based on the FIVB World Ranking at the end of the last national team season.
The remaining teams heading to the Linyi Olympic Sport Park and the Philippines for the ultimate VCC showdown will be determined by 17 June. In particular, for both the men’s and women’s VCC, the quota for Asia will be filled by the winner of the AVC Challenger 2024 in early June. Europe will send its champion and runner-up from the CEV Golden League 2024, concluding on June 16. The final spot will be awarded on 17 June to the best ranked team not yet qualified.
Finn Taylor, CEO of Volleyball World, commented: “We are excited to have locked in two strong hosts in Asia for the 2024 Volleyball Challenger Cup. This edition promises to be the most electric yet with teams aiming for a spot at next year’s expanded VNL, a move we anticipate will unleash the full commercial potential of our premier annual event.”
The 2024 edition of the VCC marks the last edition of the competition, paving the way for the revamped VNL starting in 2025. The redesigned VNL aims to streamline the competition, enhance its commercial appeal, and elevate the experience for athletes, fans, host cities, and stakeholders around the world.
The new-look VNL will expand to 18 teams per gender and the participants will no longer be divided into core and challenger teams. As such, no teams will face relegation at the end of the VNL 2024 season, while the winners of the 2024 VCC and the highest-placed teams…
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