UPDATE:  As of August 5th 2025

All 2025 Zonal Sitting Volleyball Championships have now been completed!

The ParaVolley Europe Championships drew to close on August 2, with three men’s and women’s teams earning 2026 World Championship berths.

• The men’s competition saw a repeat of the 2023 top three positions, with Bosnia & Herzegovina defeating Germany for gold, and Ukraine finishing in the bronze position.  BIH proved to be too much for the GER squad, winning in straight sets 25-23, 25-22, 25-18 – the BIH team were a force all competition, not dropping a set during the whole tournament!  In the bronze match, Ukraine won in straight sets over Serbia, 25-19, 25-21, 25-17.  As a result, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Germany, and Ukraine each earned their tickets to the 2026 World Championships.
• In the women’s competition, Italy was successful in defending their 2023 crown, defeating an upstart Netherlands team in straight sets 25-13, 25-18, 25-14.  Just as the Bosnian men did, the Italian women dominated the competition, not dropping a set all tournament. Bronze was taken by Ukraine in a 3-1 win over Slovenia 17-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-12.  Italy, Netherlands, and Ukraine have now earned the three PVE spots at the 2026 World Championships.

The ParaVolley Africa Zonals finished up on July 9, with the Egyptian men’s and Rwanda women’s teams winning the championships.

• The Egyptian men showed why they are a Paralympic medaling team, as they did not drop a set all competition.  The final saw Egypt face off against Rwanda – who themselves dropped only one set all tournament.  Egypt came out on top with a 25-21, 25-13, 25-20 victory for the gold medal, but both teams earned the PVA berths at the 2026 World Championships for finishing first and second.  In the bronze match, Algeria defeated Morocco in straight sets, 25-18, 27-25, 25-12.
• With Nigeria pulling out of the competition, this left the Rwandan and Kenyan women’s teams playing a best-of-five series to determine the victor.  Rwanda showed their experience, winning the first three matches to finish with the gold medal.  By the end of the competition, Rwanda had not dropped a set to Kenya.  Both teams qualified for the 2026 World Championships.

The ParaVolley Pan America Zonals wrapped up on May 28, and saw both Brazilian teams emerge victorious.

• In the women’s division, Brazil defeated USA for the gold, with Canada finishing in the bronze medal position. As a result of the USA earning a 2026 World Championship slot automatically as host of LA28 and winner of Paris 2024, Brazil and Canada earned the two PVPA 2026 Women’s World Championship berths.
• The men’s division saw the same podium, with Brazil defeating USA for gold in 5 sets, and Canada defeating Argentina for bronze.  Similarly to the women, the USA men earned a 2026 World Championship slot automatically as host of LA28, so Brazil and Canada earned the two PVPA 2026 Men’s World Championship berths.

The ParaVolley Asia Oceania Zonals wrapped up on June 14, with the Chinese women’s team and the Kazakhstan men’s team winning gold.

• In the women’s division, China defeated I R Iran for the gold, while Japan earned the bronze medal over Thailand. As a result of China earning a 2026 World Championship slot automatically as host, I R Iran and Japan earned the two PVAO 2026 Women’s World Championship berths.
• The men’s division saw two reverse sweeps for the medals.  Kazakhstan defeated China for gold in a thrilling 5-set match, and Thailand was victorious over Japan for bronze, again in 5 sets.  As the victor, Kazakhstan earned a 2026 World Championship berth, and as China has an automatic slot as host, Thailand earned a 2026 Men’s World Championship berth as a result of their bronze-medal finish.

2026 Sitting Volleyball World Championships Qualification Pathway

The World ParaVolley Sport Department is pleased to announce the qualification pathway for the 2026 Sitting ParaVolley (Sitting Volleyball) World Championships for Men and Women that will be held in Hangzhou, China in the period 10 – 17 July 2026.

A total of 32 teams (16 Men and 16 Women) will qualify to the premier event of the World ParaVolley.  The four 2025 Zone Championships will be providing over half of the available slots per gender.

As of June 25 2025

MEN

WOMEN

All athletes who play at events that lead into Paralympic Games Qualification events or are Paralympic Games Qualification events must hold a passport for the country they represent.

If any of the above events are not held in 2025, slots will be allocated as follows:

• Zonal Championships – Highest ranked teams from the respective Zone, based on WPV World Rankings as at 31/12/2025,
• World Cup – Next highest ranked teams, not yet qualified based on WPV World Rankings as at 31/12/2025.