Italy and Brazil are set to meet once again in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) final, repeating the 2022 showdown. In the second semifinal held in Łódź, Brazil defeated Japan in a tense five-set thriller (23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 19-25, 15-9) to book their place in Sunday’s championship match at Atlas Arena. This sets up a high-stakes rematch of the 2022 final in Ankara, where Italy swept Brazil 3-0 to claim their first-ever VNL title.
Brazil Survives Japan’s Resistance
The semifinal was anything but easy for Brazil. Japan started strong, taking the first set thanks to sharp attacks from Yukiko Wada and Airi Miyabe. But Brazil, led by captain Gabi and rising star Julia Bergmann, bounced back in style to take the next two sets.
The fourth set saw Japan stage a comeback, with Mayu Ishikawa driving their offense and forcing a deciding fifth set. In the tiebreaker, Brazil showed their experience and composure, quickly building a lead and maintaining it to close out the match. Bergmann’s final two points sealed Brazil’s spot in the final.
Top Scorers
- Brazil: Gabriela Gabi Guimaraes (25 points), Julia Bergmann (24), Julia Kudiess (13), Diana Duarte (12)
- Japan: Yukiko Wada (20), Mayu Ishikawa (19), Yoshino Sato (14), Haruyo Shimamura (10)
Italy Awaits
Earlier, Italy had made short work of Poland, winning their semifinal 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-14). The Azzurre looked sharp and focused, determined to reclaim the VNL crown they first won in 2022.
Now, the stage is set for a gripping final between two volleyball giants. Italy and Brazil know each other well, and their recent history adds even more intensity to the showdown.
Match Schedule – Sunday, July 27, 2025
- 🥉 3rd Place Match: Poland vs. Japan 16:00 (GMT+02:00)
- 🥇 Final: Italy vs. Brazil 20:00 (GMT+02:00)
Catch the action live on VBTV as volleyball’s elite chase glory in Łódź.
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