Portuguese youth volleyball is intensifying its focus on the men’s Under-18 national team, which is undergoing rigorous training ahead of a critical January 2026 qualification tournament for the European Championships.
The U18 team trains intensely four days a week in Porto, preparing for the Western European Volleyball Zonal Association (WEVZA) tournament. This event is scheduled for January 6-10, 2026, and will be held in Portugal.
Success in the WEVZA tournament is essential for the team to advance to the final phase of the European Championship, which is set to take place in Italy in July 2026.
The Portuguese Volleyball Federation (FPV) credits its emphasis on youth development for recent historic qualifications of both junior and senior national teams for the 2026 European Championships.
Coach Diogo Rosa highlights the strong team cohesion forged during daily practice. “They are daily creating a union that will give us extra strength and show that we are a team that can effectively regroup and fight back and, perhaps, in the most difficult moments, turn things around,” Rosa stated.
He added that the WEVZA tournament offers vital international exposure, which significantly aids player growth. “It is very important because of the contact they get with the international context, with other volleyball realities, and that does us a lot of good and the players grow a lot,” Rosa said.
Captain Vasco Redondo expressed the team’s high motivation. “They are full of strength; they all came back from vacation with their adrenaline high. Everyone is strong to hit the ball and I like to see that, I like to see them so motivated,” Redondo said.
Redondo acknowledged his leadership role in motivating teammates and helping them maintain focus on the qualification objective.
The federation’s development efforts extend beyond athletic prowess. The program also aims to cultivate “good citizens” for high-level volleyball.
Identifying talent and promoting broader participation are key objectives. National team selections serve as both an indicator of success and a means to attract new players to the sport.
Player Bernardo Oliveira, from the Azores, noted the rapid integration and collective improvement within the squad. “I was very well received and integrated into training as if I were a normal player. The evolution is very great in everyone. I notice they are stronger, I can tell they worked a lot together,” Oliveira shared.