Already guaranteed at the Paris Games, the Brazilian volleyball team makes its debut in the Women’s League of Nations (LNF) against Canada, at 9:00 p.m. (Brasilia time) this Tuesday (14), at the Maracanâzinho gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to fighting for an unprecedented title, Brazil will use the tournament as technical preparation for the Olympic Games. The LNF brings together the 16 highest-ranked teams in the world.

For many teams, including Canada, the NFL represents the last opportunity to qualify for Paris. The results of the first phase – 12 matches spread over three weeks – count towards the world rankings, which will determine the last five Olympic spots for women’s volleyball.

The matches of the first phase will take place simultaneously in Rio de Janeiro and Antalya (Turkey), in the following periods: from May 14 to 19 (1st week); from May 28 to June 2 (2nd); and from June 11 to 16 (3).

At the end of the first phase, the eight teams ranked first will directly access the quarter-finals (elimination matches), on June 20 and 21, in Thailand. The Asian country will also host the semi-finals (June 22) and the final on June 23.

On Monday (13), coach José Roberto Guimarães published the list of players linked for the first clash this Tuesday (14): passers (Macris, Roberta), opponents (Kisy), wingers (Ana Cristina, Gabi, JúIia Bergmann, Pri Daroit , Rosamaria, central players (Carol, Diana, Júlia Kudiess, Luzia) and liberos (Natinha and Nyeme). Four other players – Lorene and Tainara (opposing), Helena (pointer) and Thaísa (central) – were registered for the first LNF week and will also be able to act in the coming weeks.

The current LNF champion is Turkey. In the first edition of the tournament, in 2018, Brazil finished in fourth place and then was runner-up three times in a row. Last year, the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The NFL was created to replace the Grand Prix – an annual international tournament held from 1993 to 2017 – in which the team was champion 12 times. The United States is the most successful, with three titles.

2024 NFL Week 1 Matchups

TUESDAY (14)

Bulgaria x Netherlands – 11am – Antalya (Türkiye)

Italy x Poland – 2 p.m. – Antalya (Türkiye)

People’s Republic of China x Republic of Korea – 5:30 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro

Brazil x Canada – 9 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro

WEDNESDAY (15)

France x Germany – 11am – Antalya (Türkiye)

Japan x Türkiye – 2 p.m. – Antalya (Türkiye)

United States x Thailand – 5:30 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro

Serbia x Dominican Republic – 9pm – Rio de Janeiro

THURSDAY (16)

Germany x Italy – 8h – Antalya (Türkiye)

Bulgaria x Japan – 11am – Antalya (Türkiye)

Netherlands x Türkiye – 2 p.m. – Antalya (Türkiye)

Brazil x Republic of Korea – 2 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro

People’s Republic of China x United States – 5:30 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro

Dominican Republic x Canada – 9 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro

FRIDAY (17)

Japan x Germany – 8h – Antalya (Türkiye)

France x Poland – 11am – Antalya (Türkiye)

Italy x Bulgaria – 2 p.m. – Antalya (Türkiye)

Serbia x Thailand – 2pm – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

People’s Republic of China x Canada – 5:30 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazil x United States – 9:00 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro

SATURDAY (16):

Poland x Netherlands – 8:00 – Antalya (Türkiye)

France x Bulgaria – 11am – Antalya (Türkiye)

Italy x Türkiye – 2 p.m. – Antalya (Türkiye)

Serbia x People’s Republic of China – 2:00 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Republic of Korea x Dominican Republic – 5:30 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Thailand x Canada – 9pm – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

SUNDAY (19)

Germany x Netherlands – 8:00 a.m. – Antalya (Türkiye)

Brazil x Serbia – 10:00 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Poland x Japan – 11am – Antalya (Türkiye)

France x Türkiye – 2 p.m. – Antalya (Türkiye)

Dominican Republic x United States – 2:00 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Thailand x Republic of Korea – 5:30 p.m. – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil