Italy volleyball reaches European Championship quarterfinals after 13 years against Finland.

The Italian men's national volleyball team will face Finland in the quarterfinals of the 2026 European Championships, scheduled for Wednesday, September 23 at 9:05 PM at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. The World Champions come into the match undefeated, with five consecutive wins in the group stage and a victory over Denmark in the round of 16.

Finland, on the other hand, arrives from a more challenging path, with a loss in the pool against Estonia and a hard-fought tie-break victory over Greece in the round of 16. For the Nordic team, this marks a return to the continental quarterfinals after a thirteen-year absence. Italy is favored in the predictions but will need to be wary of the cohesion of the opposing team and its two Marttila brother attackers.

The sporting rivalry between Italy and Finland in men's volleyball has deep roots, with 39 matches played in history and 34 victories for the Azzurri. The last clash in an official competition dates back to the 2015 European Championship, when Italy won 3-0. The journey of the two national teams to this quarter-final began with the start of Euro 2026, a continental tournament that brings together the best European teams.

Finland is experiencing a revival under technical guidance, returning to the quarter-finals after thirteen years. A significant historical precedent dates back to 2007, when Finland was coached by Italian Mauro Berruto (who later became head coach of the Azzurri) and reached the continental semi-finals. For Italy, however, this tournament represents an opportunity to confirm the world title recently won and to return to competing for the European championship after years of mixed results. At stake is a place in the semi-final against the winner of France vs. Romania.