Stellar lineup confirmed for 2023 Men’s Club World Championship

Italians and Turkish qualified through the 2022-2023 CEV Champions League, while the two Brazilian teams earned the right to compete by ranking first and second in the South American Men’s Club Championship and the Japanese secured their spot with their victory at the Asian Men’s Club Championship. The Ahmedabad Defenders will represent the host country India and were selected after their victory at the 2023 RuPay Prime Volleyball League.

Defending champions Perugia will make just their second appearance in the tournament, coming back after taking the title last season. The Italian club has some of the biggest stars of international volleyball in their squad, such as Italian setter Simone Giannelli and Polish outside hitters Wilfredo Leon and Kamil Semeniuk.

Türkiye’s Halkbank will have their first shot at a world title after finishing third at last season’s Champions League. The Turkish have two top-tier stars in their roster, having signed French Olympic MVP outside hitter Earvin Ngapeth and retained Dutch high-scoring opposite Nimir Abdel-Aziz.

Brazil’s Sada Cruzeiro are easily the most seasoned team among the six contenders, having appeared in the Club World Championship ten times before, winning four titles (2013, 2015, 2016 ad 2021). Sada have several past and present Brazilian national team players, such as Olympic champions Wallace de Souza and Lucas Saatkamp, as well as Cuban star outside hitter Miguel Angel López.