The United States secured their spot in the 2026 men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals by beating Brazil 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-19) in front of their home crowd in Chicago. The match, played on Thursday, July 16, 2026, was reported by Volleyball World in the early hours of July 17.
Outside hitter TJ DeFalco was the catalyst of the American victory, producing seven aces, seven kills and four blocks for a match-high 18 points. His seven aces stand as the fifth-highest mark in VNL history and the best ever for a three-set match. Matt Anderson and Jake Hanes contributed 13 points each.
With their eighth win in ten Preliminary Phase matches, the Americans reached 25 points in the standings, holding second place and clinching a berth in the Finals. Brazil, who had moved into the qualification zone after sweeping France on Wednesday, slipped back to eighth with six wins and 16 points. Opposite Darlan Souza led the Brazilians with 12 kills, four aces and one block.
