The 2026 Women's Volleyball Nations League preliminary round has officially wrapped up after a dramatic Week 3, locking in the final standings and the elite field for the upcoming knockout tournament in Macao.

The Macao Finalists Locked In
The top seven performing global powerhouses officially punched their tickets to the ultimate bracket, led by the top-seeded United States, followed by Italy, Brazil, Türkiye, Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands. 
This elite group will be joined by China, who automatically secures the eighth and final seed as the tournament's host nation.
Poland's Heartbreaking Week 3 Collapse
The absolute biggest shock of the regular season was the devastating elimination of Poland. Entering the final week comfortably sitting in fourth place, the Polish squad completely crumbled under a brutal gauntlet, facing four world-class volleyball giants and tumbling down to eighth place in the final standings. 
Because China already occupies the host slot, finishing 8th was simply not enough to qualify, leaving Poland heartbreakingly on the outside looking in by the narrowest of margins.
Bulgaria Relegated from the VNL
At the bottom of the table, the battle for survival also ended in despair as Bulgaria was officially relegated. 
A final-round loss anchored them to the 18th and last spot in the overall classification, meaning they will be entirely replaced in the 2027 edition of the Volleyball Nations League by the next eligible high-ranking country.
Photos: Volleyball World