Brazil complete unbeaten run as Colombia secure second place ahead of 1st WMC Sitting Volleyball semi-finals

 

 

CURITIBA (BRA) – The 1st CISM World Military Sitting Volleyball Championship has reached its decisive stage in Curitiba, Brazil, following the conclusion of the round-robin competition on Saturday, 14 November 2026. Host nation Brazil maintained their perfect record with a fourth consecutive victory, while Colombia delivered two impressive performances to secure second place in the standings. With the four semi-finalists now confirmed, Brazil will face France and Colombia will take on Russia on Sunday, 15 November, as the teams compete for a place in the historic first-ever championship final.

 

Organised by the Brazilian Ministry of Defence, through the Brazilian Delegation to CISM (CDMB), in partnership with the Fecomércio SESC SENAC Paraná System, the inaugural championship brings together 67 athletes, coaches and officials representing Brazil, Colombia, France, Italy and Russia. Taking place from 9 to 18 November, the event represents a significant milestone in CISM's commitment to inclusion and the development of military para-sport.

 

Saturday's competition featured three decisive encounters at the SESC da Esquina court, with the final standings and semi-final pairings still to be determined.

 

 

Colombia opened the day with a convincing 3–0 victory over Italy, demonstrating their growing confidence as the competition progressed. The Colombian team controlled the opening set, winning 25–16, before increasing the pressure in the second and third sets, which they claimed 25–11 and 25–11. The result marked Colombia's second consecutive victory following their impressive success against France the previous day. In the afternoon, host nation Brazil continued their dominant campaign with another straight-sets victory, this time against France. The Brazilian team maintained control throughout the encounter, winning 25–16, 25–11 and 25–16 to secure a 3–0 success and complete the round-robin stage without a single defeat.

 

Having previously overcome Russia, Colombia and Italy, Brazil finished the preliminary phase with four victories from four matches, collecting a maximum of 12 points while winning 12 sets and conceding only one. Their consistent performances have established the hosts as strong contenders for the inaugural world military title.

 

The final match of the day produced another significant result, as Colombia defeated Russia 3–0 in a direct encounter that would determine the final positions behind Brazil.

 

 

Colombia made a strong start, claiming the opening set 25–18 before facing greater resistance in the second. Russia attempted to respond, but the Colombian team maintained their composure to secure a closely contested 25–22 victory. Colombia then completed the match with a 25–19 third set, sealing an important success against one of their principal rivals.

 

With this victory, Colombia finished the round-robin stage in second place with nine points from four matches, having recorded three victories and one defeat. Their only loss came against Brazil, while successive victories over France, Italy and Russia confirmed their position among the championship's leading teams.

 

Russia concluded the preliminary phase in third place with six points, following victories over Italy and France, while France secured fourth position with three points thanks to their opening-day success against Italy. Despite their determination throughout the competition, Italy finished fifth without a victory and will not advance to the knockout stage.

 

 

The final round-robin standings are therefore confirmed as follows: Brazil lead with 12 points and four victories, followed by Colombia with nine points, Russia with six points, France with three points and Italy with zero points.

 

The competition now moves into the semi-finals on Sunday, 15 November, with two decisive encounters scheduled at the SESC da Esquina court.

 

At 14:00, Brazil will face France in the first semi-final. Having defeated the French team in straight sets during the preliminary phase, the hosts will look to reproduce their strong performance and secure a place in the championship final. France, meanwhile, will have an opportunity to challenge the unbeaten leaders and attempt to produce a major upset.

 

The second semi-final, scheduled for 16:30, will see Colombia take on Russia. The two nations meet again just one day after their final round-robin encounter, which Colombia won 3–0. While the Colombian team will aim to maintain their momentum, Russia will be determined to reverse the result and reach the gold-medal match.

 

 

Both semi-finals promise important encounters as the four remaining nations compete for the opportunity to become the first CISM World Military Sitting Volleyball champion. The championship will reach its sporting conclusion on Monday, 16 November, with the bronze-medal match scheduled for 09:00, followed by the gold-medal match at 14:30. The winners of Sunday's semi-finals will compete for the historic title, while the defeated teams will battle for the bronze medal.

 

Beyond the results on the court, the championship continues to highlight the determination, resilience and sporting excellence of wounded and adaptive military athletes. As the first competition of its kind in CISM history, the event provides an important platform for strengthening military para-sport and promoting opportunities for athletes to represent their nations at the international level.

 

 

With the semi-finals now approaching, Curitiba is preparing for the decisive moments of a championship that has already written a new chapter in international military sport. As Brazil, Colombia, Russia and France pursue their ambitions of reaching the podium, the competition continues to embody the values of solidarity, mutual respect and international friendship that unite the CISM family under its enduring motto: Friendship through Sport.

 

For further information, match results and the competition programme, visit the official championship website: https://sittingvolleyball2026.com/

 

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department and Brazilian Delegation to CISM - Pictures: Brazilian Delegation to CISM)