Latvia's volleyball team heads to European Championship hoping to upset higher-ranked rivals
Latvia's men's volleyball team opens the European Championship in Cluj-Napoca on Wednesday against hosts Romania, aiming for a spot in the round of 16. Team leaders say results will depend on their own performance rather than rankings.
Latvia's men's national volleyball team is preparing to open the 2026 European Championship on Wednesday against host nation Romania. Head coach Uģis Krastiņš believes facing the home team first could actually favor Latvia, since the pressure of playing before a sold-out 10,000-seat arena will weigh more heavily on the Romanians.
Krastiņš stressed that Latvia will not enter any of its five group matches as favorites, but insisted rankings mean little to him — what matters is whether the team converts its chances on the day. A warm-up tournament in Tallinn proved valuable preparation: Latvia came close to forcing a fifth set against Ukraine, while the match against Estonia was used to give every player, including a young second-string squad the coach compares to an under-18 level side, time on court.
From a 15-player candidate list, 19-year-old middle blocker Kristaps Pelēkais did not make the final roster. Krastiņš explained that Pelēkais still lacks the experience needed to handle the pressure of a European Championship.
Team captain Kristaps Šmits noted that the host nation will face heavy pressure to win the opening match, so Latvia's focus should be on playing its own game without mistakes. One potential team to beat in the group is Switzerland, to whom Latvia lost 2-3 in their last Nations League/European League meeting this summer.
Latvian Volleyball Federation president Arnis Tunte expressed hope the team can reach the round of 16, saying the goal is not merely to take part but to surprise at least one higher-ranked opponent.
Group rivals and tournament format
In the group stage in Cluj-Napoca, Latvia will face Romania, Germany, France, Switzerland and Turkey. The top four teams from each group advance to the round of 16, to be played in Turin and Sofia, while the medals will be decided in Milan. The European Championship runs from September 9 to 26 across Bulgaria, Romania, Finland and Italy, marking Latvia's third appearance at the tournament's final stage.
