Japan came from two sets down to beat Canada 3-2 (18-25, 24-26, 29-27, 25-19, 15-11) on Thursday in Osaka, staying unbeaten in the men's Volleyball Nations League 2026 with 10 wins from 10 matches and booking a spot in the Finals in China. For Canada, it was more heartbreak: a seventh tie-breaker loss of the season.
Playing in front of 7,377 fans in Osaka, the hosts pulled off a stunning reverse sweep. The third set was the turning point: Canada led 22-19 and squandered match point before Japan, spurred on by their supporters, fought back to take it in overtime on their fifth set point. Japan then controlled the fourth and fifth sets, closing 25-19 and 15-11.
The result secures mathematical qualification for the Finals while preserving a perfect record — six of the ten wins have come in five sets. Opposite Tatsunori Otsuka led all scorers with 18 points (Japan won the spike duel 74-66), with Kento Miyaura (15), Shoma Tomita (14) and Larry Ik Evbade-Dan (12) chipping in. Japan also committed fewer errors (24-28) and served more aces (4-2).
