The Iranian national men’s volleyball team achieved a dominant victory over Cuba during the friendly tournament held in Ufa. The squad controlled the entire match on Saturday, securing a straight-set triumph with set scores of 25-16, 25-19, and 25-22. Consequently, this crucial win allowed the national side to bounce back effectively after dropping their opening fixture 3-1 against host nation Russia.
Head coach Roberto Piazza actively utilizes this international exhibition series to refine tactical rotations and assess roster readiness. During the contest against Cuba, the starting lineup featured key players including Arshia Behnezjad, Amin Esmaeilnezhad, Morteza Sharifi, Ali Haghparast, Nima Bateni, Seyed Issa Nasseri, and libero Mohammadreza Hazratpour. The technical staff continues to focus on improving defensive organization and offensive set execution against high-caliber opponents.
The Iranian national team concludes its tournament schedule in Ufa with an upcoming match against Belarus. Following the action in Ufa, the squad travels to Moscow to conduct additional training sessions and compete in two exhibition matches against Dinamo Moscow. These intense preparation stages serve as vital groundwork before the team departs for Japan.
In Japan, the squad will first compete at the 2026 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship in Fukuoka, which doubles as an Olympic qualifying event. Subsequently, the Iranian roster prepares for the 20th Asian Games men’s volleyball tournament in Aichi, Japan. The Asian Volleyball Confederation and the Olympic Council of Asia organize the continental event, where Iran enters Pool B alongside group stage rivals Indonesia, Thailand, and Kyrgyzstan.