December 16 ------ REIGNING silver and bronze medalists USA and Japan will take center stage when the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) returns to the Philippines on June 18 to 23, 2024. Joining crowd favorites Yuki Ishikawa, Ran Takahashi, and the rest of Ryujin Nippon in the league's Manila leg (VNL Week 3) is the star-studded American squad led by one of the world's best and most decorated setters in Micah Christenson.
Of the eight competing men's teams, four-time podium finisher USA (world #2) and Iran (#15) will play in Manila for the first time in three consecutive VNL hosting years for the Philippines. Returning for a second VNL visit are 2021 champ Brazil (#5), 2022 champ France (#8), Germany (#10), and Canada (#12). Meanwhile, only Japan (#4) and the Netherlands (#13) are set to complete a hat-trick of VNL appearances in the country.
Just like the past two seasons, the Philippines will be the only host country without a competing team in the VNL as 2024 co-hosts Brazil, Turkiye, Canada, Japan, and Slovenia are all in the running for this year's title. But as revealed in the Manila leg of VNL 2023, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has a bid in place to host the 2025 FIVB Women's World Championship, with Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Vietnam also eyeing to secure hosting rights for the biennial event.
Source: spin.ph
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