Vietnamese women's volleyball team receives unwelcome news ahead of the 20th Asian Games

The Vietnamese women's volleyball squad is set to compete in several crucial competitions between the end of July and the start of October.

The VTV Cup 2026 international women's volleyball tournament is facing the possibility of not proceeding as scheduled, which will likely force the Vietnamese women's team to adjust their preparations for the important period of the season.

Accordingly, due to difficulties in organization and scheduling, the organizing committee is considering postponing or not holding the VTV Cup 2026. Previously, this "super tournament" was planned to take place from August 8 to August 15, featuring many strong teams from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Thailand.

One of the reasons complicating the VTV Cup's organization is that its timing nearly coincides with the second leg of the SEA V.Cup 2026. This puts the coaching staff in a difficult position regarding resource allocation, especially since some additionally summoned players have already had to return to their parent clubs to participate in the National Youth Club Cup currently being held in Ninh Binh.

In addition, strict regulations from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) regarding a national team playing against a club in an international tournament may also be a reason why the VTV Cup cannot be scheduled as planned.

If VTV Cup 2026 is not held, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team will be significantly affected in their preparation plans for the remaining important tournaments of this season. Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's team will participate in two legs of the SEA V.League from late July to early August, the Asian Championships at the end of August, and most importantly, the 20th Asian Games held in Nagoya, Japan from mid-September to early October.

Three years ago at the 19th Asian Games held in China, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and her teammates made history by reaching the top 4, finishing behind only China, Japan, and South Korea. That will also be the goal set for our girls at this year's Asian Games.

As for the VTV Cup, this is an annual international friendly tournament that has become an indispensable spiritual dish for Vietnamese volleyball fans for decades. The Vietnamese team is the defending runner-up for two consecutive seasons, both times losing to Korabelka (Russia) in the finals of 2024 and 2025.