India’s AVC Asian Championship schedule, LA28 Olympic berth at stake

The AVC Men’s Volleyball Asian Championship 2026 will take place in Kitakyushu, Japan, from September 4 to 13, with the tournament offering a direct qualification berth for the LA28 Olympic Games.

The Asian champions will secure one of the 12 quota places for the men's volleyball competition at Los Angeles 2028 and become the first team outside hosts USA to qualify for the Games.

India have been drawn in Pool B alongside Iran, China and New Zealand and will begin their campaign against China on September 5.

India qualified after finishing as runners-up at the CAVA Nations League 2025. The tournament will mark their 21st appearance in the continental championship, having first competed in 1979.

Their best-ever finish came in 2005, when India finished fourth.

The Indian team enters the competition ranked 46th in the FIVB men's world rankings after a promising third-place finish at the AVC Men's Cup earlier this year. Led by Jerome Vinith, India will face a major test against Iran and China, two of Asia's established volleyball powers.

The top two teams from each of the three pools, along with the two best third-placed sides, will advance to the quarter-finals.

India’s Pool B schedule

India will begin their campaign against China on September 5 before taking on Iran the following day. Their final pool match will be against New Zealand on September 8.

China vs India: September 5, 10:00

Iran vs India: September 6, 06:30

India vs New Zealand: September 8, 06:30

The 12 participating teams have been divided into three groups of four. 

Knockout schedule

The quarter-finals will be played from September 10 to 12, followed by the semi-finals on September 12. The third-place match and final will take place at Kitakyushu Gymnasium on September 13.

Quarterfinal 1: September 10, 12:00

Quarterfinal 2: September 10, 16:00

Quarterfinal 3: September 11, 12:00

Quarterfinal 4: September 12, 16:00

Semifinal 1: September 12, 12:00

Semifinal 2: September 12, 16:00

Third-place match: September 13, 12:00

Final: September 13, 16:00

Japan enter the tournament as the defending champions and will be among the leading contenders for the Olympic quota.

The Asian Championship represents a significant opportunity for the continent's leading men's volleyball teams, with the tournament winner guaranteed a place at the 2028 Olympic Games.

Participation at LA28 will ultimately depend on each athlete being selected by their respective National Olympic Committee.