North Macedonia U20 men start training in Kruševo ahead of zonal qualifiers for EuroVolley 2027

The North Macedonia men's under-20 volleyball team began preparations this afternoon in Kruševo ahead of the zonal qualifiers for the EuroVolley 2027 final phase.

The generation that featured at last year’s European Youth Olympic Festival will for the first time this year get a shot at continental qualifying competition, with the squad training in Kruševo until it departs for Sofia.

Coach Jovan Šape will have the players he called up available for the next twenty days as the team prepares to travel to the qualifiers, which are scheduled to take place in Sofia from 25 to 29 August.

“I believe in you, that's why you were selected and you're here. Hard work awaits,” Šape told the young players and added: “I believe you will be conscientious, responsible and disciplined, and you will seize the chance you have because you are the future of Macedonian volleyball. For the first time a young national team has the opportunity to play in European qualifiers and regardless of the opponents I hope we will present ourselves in a good light.”

North Macedonia’s U20 side will face strong competition in the zonal pool, drawn against Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Turkey and Bulgaria. The matches will be played in a round‑robin (each team plays each) format.

The number of teams that advance from this zonal group to the next stage will depend on how many teams register across the other five zonal qualifying groups.

Photo: press material from the event