Coach Nikola Grbić has finalized the Polish national team roster for the VNL 2026 tournament in Chicago. With a 6-2 record and a current third-place standing, Poland aims to secure a spot in the Ningbo finals (July 29 – August 2) by facing Bulgaria, Brazil, France, and the USA.
This isn't just another set of fixtures. Poland is operating at a high level. With the European Championships in Sofia looming on September 9, Grbić is balancing the need for immediate wins with the necessity of rotating his depth chart.
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The outside hitter (przyjmujący) corps is stacked with Wilfredo Leon, Artur Szalpuk, Aleksander Śliwka, Kamil Semeniuk, and Tomasz Fornal.
Here is the breakdown of the squad heading into the Windy City:
| Position | Confirmed Players |
|---|---|
| Setters | Marcin Komenda, Marcel Bakaj, Jan Firlej |
| Opposites | Bartłomiej Bołądź, Kewin Sasak |
| Outside Hitters | Wilfredo Leon, Artur Szalpuk, Aleksander Śliwka, Kamil Semeniuk, Tomasz Fornal |
| Middle Blockers | Szymon Jakubiszak, Bartłomiej Lemański, Jakub Majchrzak, Jakub Kochanowski, Jakub Nowak |
| Liberos | Jakub Popiwczak, Maksymilian Granieczny |
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For more on the global standings and official match data, visit the Polsatsport.pl portal.
The Road to Sofia: From Chicago to the European Stage
The VNL is the appetizer; the European Championships are the main course. Following the Chicago grind, the squad will enter a strategic recovery window before the Memorial Huberta Jerzego Wagnera in late August. That tournament serves as the final “tune-up” against France, Slovenia, and the USA.
The transition to the European Championships on September 9 in Sofia, Bulgaria, will require a different mental gear. Poland’s group stage—featuring Portugal, Israel, North Macedonia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria—is a mix of “must-win” sprints and tactical traps.
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