Haikou, China – Iran emerged as the new champions of the AVC Boys’ U18 Volleyball Championship 2026 after defeating Japan 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22) in the gold medal match in Haikou, China, capping an outstanding campaign with the continental title.
The tournament brought together Asia’s brightest volleyball prospects, providing the continent’s next generation of stars with the opportunity to compete on one of its premier youth stages while showcasing the future of Asian volleyball.
Japan opened the championship match with confidence, edging a tightly contested first set 25-23 through disciplined defense and precise attacking. Iran responded immediately, raising its level in the second set to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-22 victory.
From there, Iran took control of the contest. The eventual champions dominated the third set 25-17 before holding off a determined Japanese comeback attempt in the fourth, closing out the match 25-22 to complete the four-set triumph.
The victory marked another memorable achievement for Iran’s rising stars, whose resilience, teamwork and consistency carried them through the week-long championship. Japan finished with the silver medal after another impressive campaign that highlighted the nation’s continued excellence in youth volleyball.
Completing the podium was Chinese Taipei, which secured the bronze medal with a strong performance in the third-place playoff. The bronze-medal finish capped an impressive tournament for Chinese Taipei, joining champions Iran and runners-up Japan on the podium as the championship celebrated another generation of emerging talent across Asia.
Following the final, the tournament’s standout performers were honored with places in the official Dream Team.
Iran’s Abolfazl Pashaamiri earned the tournament’s highest individual distinction as the Most Valuable Player after leading his team to the championship. He also received the Best Opposite award, making him the only player to claim two individual honors.
Joining him in the Dream Team were Kaiji Nishimura and Wei-Hsiu Chang as the Best Outside Hitters, Pedram Heydari Sefat and Haru Sawano as the Best Middle Blockers, Toma Mizobuchi as Best Libero, and Amirali Shams as Best Setter.
AVC Boys’ U18 Volleyball Championship 2026 Dream Team
Most Valuable Player: Abolfazl Pashaamiri
Best Outside Hitter: Kaiji Nishimura
Best Outside Hitter: Wei-Hsiu Chang
Best Middle Blocker: Pedram Heydari Sefat
Best Middle Blocker: Haru Sawano
Best Opposite: Abolfazl Pashaamiri
Best Libero: Toma Mizobuchi
Best Setter: Amirali Shams
The 2026 edition once again underscored the AVC’s commitment to developing the future of Asian volleyball by providing a world-class platform for emerging athletes to gain valuable international experience. Throughout the tournament, the continent’s rising stars demonstrated exceptional skill, determination and sportsmanship, reaffirming the strength and depth of youth volleyball in Asia as they continue their journey toward the senior international stage.
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