VOLLEYBALL – BAHRAIN’S senior men’s volleyball national team were yesterday drawn in a tough Pool A for the AVC Men’s Cup 2026.
The Bahrainis are the defending champions of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) tournament, which is set to be hosted this year by Ahmedabad in India from June 20 to 28.
The kingdom’s side are one of 12 senior men’s squads from across the continent set to compete in the event.
The Bahrainis will be hitting the court in Pool A of the preliminary round alongside hosts India, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, and New Zealand. Pool B features Qatar, South Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Oman.
The draw was conducted yesterday by the AVC.
The AVC Men’s Cup 2026 is set to be its seventh edition and it will be the second time it is being held in its current format.
Bahrain won last year’s event, which was held in the kingdom. They claimed the title after defeating Pakistan in four sets in the gold medal game. Qatar, who were winners from 2024, secured the bronze medals after defeating South Korea in three sets.
The title was an historic result for Bahrain’s senior men’s national team, as it was the kingdom’s first-ever championship in any AVC competition. The result also earned them a spot in the upcoming AVC Volleyball Men’s Continental Championship 2026, to be held in Fukuoka, Japan, from September 4 to 13.
The Bahrainis are coached by former Olympian Arnaud Josserand from France. They are currently ranked 40th in the world amongst senior men’s national teams and are also seventh in the AVC.
Only Australia are currently ranked higher than Bahrain amongst Asian sides being 33rd in the world. Qatar are the highest-classified team that will be taking part in the AVC Nation’s Cup in 21st on the world rankings. South Korea follow in 26th.
Asia’s top side Japan, along with Iran and China, are not competing as they are part of the 2026 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League.
Bahrain are expected to begin their preparations for their continental foray following the completion of the 2025-26 season’s Isa Bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League and the His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Cup.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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