The Americans beat the Japanese, who will face the Slovenians for third place on Sunday.

In a decisive match at the final tournament in Ningbo, China, the United States men's volleyball team defeated Japan 3-2 in a tightly contested semifinal on August 1, 2026. The victory secured their place in the championship final against Poland, while Japan will face Slovenia in a bronze medal match scheduled for Sunday morning. Slovenian players, who had earlier lost to Poland in their semifinal, will have one last chance to claim a podium finish. The match between the U.S. and Japan was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts. In the opening set, the Americans erased Japan’s early lead and took control with a score of 1:0. However, Japan responded strongly in the second set, maintaining dominance throughout and winning it 2:1. The third set remained evenly balanced, with Japan ultimately prevailing again due to better execution in the closing moments. The fourth set saw the U.S. regain their composure, taking command of play and holding onto their advantage until the end. In the fifth and deciding set, the Americans were initially ahead but faced a brief surge from Japan, who led 12:11 at one point. Nevertheless, the U.S. managed to reverse the momentum once more, securing the set and advancing to the final. This marked the first loss for Japan in this year’s FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League season. The American team, having previously lost in finals in 2019, 2022, and 2023, will now face Poland in the championship match. Poland, currently ranked number one in the world, has been defending champions since 2023 and 2025. They aim to secure a record third title in the league, surpassing both France and Russia, who each hold two titles. Japan, who have reached the final of the Nations League twice before, most recently losing to France in 2024—will compete for the bronze medal against Slovenia. Slovenia’s squad, coached by Italian strategist Fabio Soli, struggled to find opportunities against Poland in their semifinal match. Despite their efforts, they fell short against the high-caliber Polish team. For Slovenia, this will be their fourth appearance in the bronze medal match within six seasons. Previously, they had three chances to win a medal but came up empty in 2021, 2024, and 2025. This upcoming match represents a crucial opportunity for them to finally secure a podium finish in the competition. The match between Slovenia and Japan is set to begin at 9:40 AM local time on Sunday. Meanwhile, the championship final between Poland and the United States is scheduled for 1:30 PM. Both matches will take place in Ningbo, drawing attention from fans around the world eager to witness the outcomes of these highly anticipated encounters.