Iran volleyball chief shrugs off VNL struggles, throws support behind Piazza
Iran Volleyball Federation president Milad Taqavi has downplayed the national team’s disappointing Volleyball Nations League (VNL) campaign, insisting the competition has never been the federation’s primary target while firmly rejecting speculation over the future of Italian head coach Roberto Piazza.
Piazza’s side endured an underwhelming preliminary phase at the annual global showpiece, suffering nine defeats in 12 matches to finish 14th in the 18-team standings and miss out on the VNL Finals for a fourth successive year.
However, speaking to Iranian state television on Friday, Taqavi said the VNL should be viewed as part of Iran’s long-term development rather than a benchmark for success.
“The Volleyball Nations League has never been our ultimate goal in any year,” Taqavi said. “It has always been a pathway toward achieving bigger objectives.”
Responding to criticism that Iran entered the tournament with limited preparation, Taqavi defended the team’s schedule, noting that many of the world’s top teams also had minimal warm-up matches before the VNL.
“Some people ask why the national team did not play more friendlies. We played one warm-up match against Brazil. Japan, which won all 12 of its matches, did not play any friendlies. Apart from Poland and Ukraine, almost every team, like us, only played one or two preparation matches,” he said.
Taqavi nevertheless acknowledged the need to assess the team’s performance and revealed that the federation would hold an expert review session next week with analysts and media representatives to examine the reasons behind Iran’s disappointing results.
The federation president also sought to end speculation surrounding Piazza’s future after reports suggested the Italian could be replaced by a domestic coach ahead of the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship, which will kick off on September 4 in Fukuoka.
Taqavi ruled out any change to the coaching staff before the continental tournament, stressing that Iran would compete under Piazza’s guidance.
“I want to be completely clear on this matter,” he said. “There are less than two months until the Asian Championship, and naturally we cannot bring in another foreign coach in such a short period. The process of negotiating and signing a new head coach is simply not possible within this timeframe.”
Taqavi said Piazza’s current contract runs until the end of the 2026 season and that the federation would evaluate his performance after the Asian Championship before making a final decision on the next phase of the partnership.
“Our plan is to continue working with Piazza through 2028,” he said.
He also dismissed calls to appoint an Iranian coach, arguing that changing the coaching staff so close to a major tournament would only create unnecessary instability.
“What is the point of replacing the head coach less than two months before the Asian Championship, when the team needs calm and should stay away from crisis?” Taqavi said. “I can say with certainty that Iran’s national team will not compete at the event under an Iranian head coach.”
As if Iran needed any extra motivation to chase a third Asian title in four editions and avenge its defeat to Japan in the 2023 final on home soil, an Olympic quota place will also be at stake in Fukuoka, with the champion securing direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.