Brazil claimed a significant win in the men's 2026 Volleyball Nations League, sweeping reigning Olympic champions France 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-19). The match was played on 16 July 2026 in Chicago, on the opening day of the competition's third week, and lifted the Brazilians back above the cut-off line in the standings for qualification to the Finals in China.
The standout was Brazilian opposite Darlan Souza, who scored 13 points — the match high — and fired four of his team's five aces. Outside hitter Adriano Cavalcante chipped in with 11 points. For France it was not enough to have 12 points from 21-year-old outside hitter Mathis Henno and 10 from opposite Stephen Boyer, including two aces.
With this win Brazil overtook Bulgaria and Italy, entering the Finals zone in seventh place on a 6-3 win-loss record and 16 points. France, on 4-5 and stuck in tenth place, see their chances of reaching China growing slimmer.
