Japan Secure Top Spot With 11th Straight Win
Japan defeated Belgium 3–0 for their 11th consecutive VNL victory and secured a quarterfinal meeting with hosts China.
Japan extended their winning run in the 2026 Volleyball Nations League with a 3–0 victory over Belgium in Osaka.
Despite resting several regular starters, Japan controlled the match and completed a 25–20, 25–22, 25–16 win. It was their 11th consecutive victory in this year’s competition.
The result confirmed Japan as the top-ranked team at the end of the preliminary phase. They will face China in the VNL quarterfinals.
China qualified for the Finals as the host nation and will enter the knockout stage as the eighth seed. The Chinese team have recorded only one victory during the preliminary round but will have home advantage when the Finals begin in Ningbo.
Japan will now prepare for the quarterfinal after completing another convincing performance with a changed starting lineup. Their unbeaten run makes them one of the leading contenders for the VNL title.
