AVC Cup 2026 is only a few days away from kicking off in the Philippines, but Asian volleyball unexpectedly received attention-grabbing information related to the host country of the tournament.
Accordingly, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has just issued a decision to suspend operations for the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PNVF). This move came immediately after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) announced the temporary suspension of financial support for the country's volleyball governing body.
According to Philippine press, PNVF is facing many problems in management, from building the national team force, personnel management to financial disputes. One of the reasons mentioned is that the Philippines has not been able to complete the women's national team to participate in the AVC Cup 2026 even though it is the host.
In an official announcement, FIVB said: "According to Article 13.1.1 of the FIVB Disciplinary Regulations, the FIVB Board of Directors is forced to suspend the Philippine National Volleyball Federation immediately.
This decision was made after serious concerns about governance and many allegations of violating FIVB's Code of Ethics, which is currently being investigated by the FIVB's Independent Ethics Council.
Despite FIVB's continuous diplomatic efforts to find a sustainable direction for Philippine volleyball, suspension is considered necessary to protect this sport, ensure athletes are prioritized and maintain long-term development commitments for volleyball in the Philippines".
At the same time, FIVB confirmed that it will establish an interim committee to manage the activities of Philippine volleyball in the transition period. Initially, it is to support national teams as well as ensure the organization of international events that have been assigned to the Philippines.
Notably, FIVB has not mentioned the AVC Cup 2026 in the suspension announcement. The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 6 to June 14 in Candon city. The Vietnamese women's volleyball team is in Group B with Kazakhstan, Iran, Indonesia, Hong Kong (China) and Lebanon, while the host Philippines is in Group A.
Thus, up to now, the plan to organize the AVC Cup 2026 has not changed. However, the FIVB's decision has created more attention for the tournament that the Vietnamese women's volleyball team is aiming for the goal of defending the championship for the fourth consecutive time.
