Hazratpour backs Iran to rebound from VNL setback ahead of Asian Championship
Iranian libero Mohammadreza Hazratpour says he is confident the national volleyball team’s disappointing 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) campaign will prove to be a temporary setback, vowing a strong run at the upcoming Asian Championship.
A dreadful VNL preliminary phase saw Iran manage just three victories in 12 games to finish 14th in the 18-team standings and narrowly retain its place in next year’s edition of the competition.
Despite the team’s struggles, Hazratpour emerged as one of Iran’s few standout performers, finishing as the tournament’s fourth-best receiver with 67 successful receptions.
Speaking to Varzesh3 days after the VNL concluded, the veteran libero admitted the results fell well short of expectations but promised supporters the team would respond.
“I personally promise that Iran will never experience another Volleyball Nations League like this,” Hazratpour said. “I give this promise to the people and the volleyball community that next year we will be in a much better position.”
Next up for the Iranian team is the all-important AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental Championship, which will kick off on September 4 in the Japanese city of Kitakyushu.
Hazratpour said Iran has already shifted its focus to the Asian Championship, describing the tournament as a crucial step toward the team’s long-term Olympic ambitions.
As if Iran needed extra motivation to chase a fifth continental title in eight editions and make amends for its 2023 final defeat to Japan on home soil, the tournament also offers an Olympic berth, with the winner securing a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
“The Asian Championship is by no means out of reach,” he said. “It’s not as if Japan can beat us easily. It will certainly be a very difficult match, but Japan isn’t our only challenge. China, the Philippines and South Korea are also strong teams.”
“Volleyball has progressed everywhere. There are no easy opponents anymore, whether in Asia or Europe. Every team uses modern game plans, so every match will be difficult.”
Reflecting on Iran’s poor VNL campaign, Hazratpour said several factors affected the team’s preparation, including the disruption of last season’s domestic league because of the military conflict in the country, which limited training opportunities and reduced the number of warm-up matches.
“I’m not making excuses, but those circumstances definitely affected our performance,” he said.
Hazratpour nevertheless believes Iran deserved a better VNL campaign, pointing to narrow defeats against Belgium, France and Japan.
“We had the ability to win six or even seven matches,” he said. “Those games were decided by the smallest of margins, and we had genuine chances to come away with victories.”
The libero described the defeat to eventual runner-up the United States as Iran’s weakest display of the tournament but praised the team’s performances in several other matches, including those against France and Brazil.
Looking beyond the disappointing campaign, Hazratpour backed Italian head coach Roberto Piazza’s long-term project and urged Iranian fans to remain patient with one of the world’s youngest national teams.
“Piazza truly loves Iranian volleyball and the players. He has a clear approach, and we’re gradually implementing it. We simply need time,” he said.
Hazratpour revealed he believes he has implemented around 60 to 70 percent of what the Italian coach expects from him, adding that the team will continue to improve as players become more familiar with the system.
He also highlighted a new generation of talented players, including Arshia Behnejad, Ali Haqparast, Pouria Hosseinkhanzadeh, Nima Bateni, Ali Hajipour and Morteza Sharifi, saying they have the potential to become future stars of Iranian volleyball.
“I’ve played alongside Iran’s golden generation and witnessed that era firsthand, but I also see tremendous talent and a very bright future in this team,” Hazratpour said.
“These aren’t just words to give people hope. I’ve seen the quality of these players up close. Every one of them has the ability to compete among the best in the world.”
Hazratpour concluded by reiterating his belief that Iran can compete on equal terms with Asian powerhouse Japan, which completed a clean sweep of 12 wins in the VNL preliminaries, and urged supporters to continue backing the national team.
“We’re already preparing for that challenge. Every player is training, everyone is motivated, and we won’t step onto the court with a losing mentality,” he said.
“Our future is very bright. Give this team time, and I’m certain it will become one of the strongest teams in world volleyball.”