AVC Nations Cup 2025: A Gateway to the Asian Championship and VNL

The AVC Nations Cup 2025, formerly known as the AVC Women’s Challenge Cup, is set to take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, from June 7 to June 14, 2025. This highly anticipated event will feature 11 teams competing not only for the title but also for a chance to qualify for the 2026 Asian Championship and garner world ranking points.

The participating teams have been divided into two pools using the serpentine system, based on their standings in the previous edition:

Pool A: Vietnam (Hosts), Australia (4th), India (5th), Hong Kong (8th), Chinese Taipei (9th) 

Pool B: Kazakhstan (2nd), Philippines (3rd), Iran (6th), Indonesia (7th), Mongolia (-), New Zealand (-)

This tournament has undergone a significant evolution in its format and purpose. In previous years, the champion of the AVC Women’s Challenge Cup secured a spot in the FIVB Challenger Cup, which served as a stepping stone to the Volleyball Nations League (VNL). However, with the FIVB restructuring the VNL and abolishing the Challenger Cup as a qualifier, the AVC Nations Cup now provides teams with an opportunity to earn valuable world ranking points. These points will be crucial for entering the restructured VNL, as the highest-ranked team not yet qualified to the VNL will now gain promotion to the elite competition.

As a result, teams participating in the VNL—including China, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea—are ineligible for the AVC Nations Cup, making this tournament a key platform for other Asian teams to shine.

Historically, the competition has seen two different champions. Hong Kong claimed victory in the inaugural edition in 2022, while Vietnam triumphed in the 2023 and 2024 editions, earning spots in the now-defunct FIVB Challenger Cup.

With the competition heading to Hanoi, the focus will be on how the teams perform in this revamped format. Vietnam, backed by passionate home support, will look to defend their recent successes, while every participating team will be eager to make their mark. The tournament promises to deliver thrilling matches and provide a showcase for emerging talent in Asian volleyball.

(Featured image source: AVC)

(Written by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)