Women’s team places fourth at the 2026 Sitting Volleyball World Championships

Hangzhou, China (July 17, 2026) – It is a fourth-place finish for the Canadian women’s team after a 0-3 loss to China (13-25,15-25,14-25) in the bronze-medal match at the 2026 Sitting Volleyball World Championships. The result also means that China has secured a spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. China is the silver medallist from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, while Canada won bronze at those Games.

At these world championships, the USA women, Paralympic champions in Paris, defeated Brazil 3-1 to win gold. Brazil also secured a spot for LA 28.

In the men’s tournament, Canada won its final game 3-0 over Japan to place 15th.

On the men’s podium, it was gold again for reigning Paralympic and world champions Iran after a 3-1 win over Paralympic silver medallist Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kazakhstan won the bronze-medal match over Brazil 3-2. Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina have earned spots for LA 28.

The eight-day world championships featured 16 women’s and 16 men’s teams from 22 countries.

The tournament was the first opportunity for teams to secure qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games, with the men’s and women’s top two (excluding USA who qualified with a top 8) earning direct qualification places.

The next qualification opportunity for both Canadian teams will be the 2027 Parapan Am Games in Lima, Peru – one berth will be available for the top team not already qualified. There is also a final Paralympic Qualifier in 2028 (dates and location TBA) where the top team per gender qualifies.

News release from Volleyball Canada