Five appearances. One relegation. One Challenger Cup comeback — and a first Finals appearance at home.
China in the VNL — From the Bottom of the Table to a Home Finals Debut
China have never been among the leading teams in the men’s Volleyball Nations League. In five completed appearances through 2025, they finished 13th or lower in every Preliminary Phase and never qualified for the knockout stage through league position.
Their VNL history is still more than a sequence of low finishes. China withdrew from the 2021 tournament during the pandemic, returned in 2022, finished last in 2023 and lost their place in the competition. A year later, they won the final edition of the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup to earn their way back.
The comeback led to China’s biggest VNL stage yet. With Ningbo hosting the 2025 Finals, the national team received the host berth and made its first appearance in the last eight. The quarterfinal ended in defeat to Brazil, but an inspired opening set and a competitive home performance offered a glimpse of the rebuilding project led by Belgian coach Vital Heynen.
Quick Facts
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| VNL editions competed | 5 (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025) |
| VNL titles / medals | 0 / 0 |
| Best VNL finish | 8th place — 2025 quarterfinalists as Finals hosts |
| First VNL appearance | 2018 |
| Best Preliminary Phase finish | 13th place (2022) |
| Most wins in a Preliminary Phase | 3 (2018, 2022 and 2025) |
| Challenger Cup title | 2024 — defeated Belgium 3–1 in the final |
| Head coach (2024–present) | Vital Heynen |
| Captain (2025) | Jiang Chuan |
| Top scorer (2025 Preliminary Phase) | Jiang Chuan — 98 points |
China VNL Results by Year
| Year | Preliminary Phase | Result / Finals Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 15th of 16 — 3–12, 9 pts | Did not reach Finals |
| 2019 | 16th of 16 — 1–14, 4 pts | Did not reach Finals |
| 2020 | — | Tournament cancelled because of COVID-19 |
| 2021 | — | Withdrew; the Netherlands replaced China |
| 2022 | 13th of 16 — 3–9, 9 pts | Did not reach Finals |
| 2023 | 16th of 16 — 2–10, 6 pts | Finished last and lost VNL place |
| 2024 | — | Did not compete; won the Challenger Cup |
| 2025 | 17th of 18 — 3–9, 9 pts | 8th overall; first Finals appearance as hosts |
Season-by-Season History
2018 — A Difficult Debut and a Standout Jiang Chuan
China entered the inaugural VNL under Argentine coach Raúl Lozano and immediately discovered the depth of the new annual competition. They won three of 15 matches and finished 15th, ahead of only South Korea.
The team still produced one of the tournament’s most notable individual stories. Opposite Jiang Chuan finished as the VNL’s most prolific spiker and second-highest scorer. His 37-point performance in a five-set victory over France remained the competition’s single-match scoring record until 2021.
China’s first season therefore established the pattern that would follow: results near the bottom of the standings, but flashes of high-level attacking talent capable of troubling elite opponents.
Final result: 15th place. Preliminary Phase: 3–12, 9 points.
2019 — A Step Back to Last Place
Any hope of building quickly on the debut disappeared in 2019. China won only one of 15 matches and dropped to 16th place, the lowest finish in the competition.
Under the original VNL structure, China’s status as a core team protected them from immediate relegation. The campaign nevertheless showed how far the programme remained from the Finals level and ended Raúl Lozano’s two-edition VNL spell in charge.
Final result: 16th place. Preliminary Phase: 1–14, 4 points.
2020–2021 — Cancellation, Then Withdrawal
The 2020 VNL was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the competition returned in a single-site bubble in Rimini in 2021, China did not take part.
The Chinese Volleyball Association withdrew the men’s team because of financial limitations, international travel restrictions, China’s entry-quarantine requirements and a scheduling conflict with the National Games. The Netherlands replaced China, while promotion and relegation were frozen for the season.
That decision allowed China to return directly to the VNL in 2022 without having to qualify through the Challenger Cup.
2022 — A Return Marked by a Brazil Upset and COVID Disruption
China returned under head coach Wu Sheng and finished 13th with three wins from 12 matches — their best Preliminary Phase position through 2025.
The unquestioned highlight came in Brasilia, where China stunned defending VNL champions Brazil 3–0 (25–23, 31–29, 25–23). It remains one of the biggest wins in the team’s competition history.
The season also produced an unusual sequence of COVID-related results. China forfeited a scheduled match against France while dealing with positive tests. After local authorities later cleared the players to leave isolation, Germany refused to play them and automatically forfeited, giving China a 3–0 win. China then defeated Bulgaria on court to register their third victory.
Final result: 13th place. Preliminary Phase: 3–9, 9 points.
2023 — Last Place and Relegation
Jiang Chuan returned to world-level international volleyball and resumed the captaincy in 2023, but China could not turn his presence into a sustained rise. The team won two matches and finished 16th, below every other participant.
This time the bottom-place finish had consequences. China lost their VNL spot for 2024 and had to rebuild outside the competition before attempting to qualify again through the Challenger Cup.
The campaign also brought more responsibility for a younger group led by outside hitter Zhang Jingyin, who had already emerged as one of China’s main scorers during Jiang’s absence.
Final result: 16th place. Preliminary Phase: 2–10, 6 points; relegated from the VNL.
2024 — Challenger Cup Champions and a Route Back
China began a new cycle in 2024 with Belgian coach Vital Heynen. His first major assignment was clear: win the final edition of the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup and restore the country’s place in the expanded 2025 VNL.
Playing the knockout tournament at home in Linyi, China reached the final and defeated Belgium 3–1 (25–20, 25–20, 22–25, 25–22). The victory secured promotion and completed an immediate return after one season outside the VNL.
The Challenger Cup title did not erase the problems exposed in 2023, but it gave Heynen and the federation a platform for a longer rebuild centred on greater international experience and the next Olympic cycle.
Result: 2024 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup champions; qualified for VNL 2025.
2025 — First Finals Appearance in Ningbo
China returned as the VNL expanded from 16 to 18 teams. The Preliminary Phase remained difficult: they finished 17th with a 3–9 record and nine points. Captain Jiang Chuan led the team with 98 points.
Their league position would not normally have been enough to advance, but Ningbo was hosting the men’s Finals and China received the host berth. That created the first knockout-stage appearance in the country’s VNL history and a quarterfinal against Preliminary Phase winners Brazil.
China responded to the occasion. Backed by a loud home crowd, they recovered from an early deficit and won an extended opening set 31–29. Brazil then used stronger serving and attack to take the next three sets and win 3–1 (29–31, 25–19, 25–16, 25–21). China outblocked Brazil 11–8, with middle blocker Li Yongzhen producing four blocks, while Wen Zihua led the hosts with 15 points.
The defeat confirmed eighth place, but the performance was more encouraging than the final ranking alone suggested. China had reached the VNL’s decisive stage for the first time and competed seriously with a team that went on to win bronze.
Final result: 8th place. Preliminary Phase: 17th, 3–9 and 9 points. Quarterfinal: lost to Brazil 1–3.
Key Players in China’s VNL History
Jiang Chuan (Opposite / Captain)
The defining player of China’s VNL era. Jiang made an immediate impact in 2018 as the tournament’s leading spiker and second-highest scorer, including a 37-point match against France. After time away from world-level national-team competition, he returned as captain in 2023 and led China with 98 points in the 2025 Preliminary Phase. His combination of power, experience and leadership has made him the central figure in the team’s VNL story.
Zhang Jingyin (Outside Hitter)
A 2.07-metre outside hitter who became one of China’s primary scorers during the early 2020s. Zhang was an important part of the 2022 VNL team and the 2024 Challenger Cup-winning squad. His size, attacking reach and international club experience make him one of the most important players in Heynen’s long-term rebuild.
Yu Yaochen (Setter)
Yu captained China during Jiang Chuan’s absence and has connected several phases of the national team’s development. As a setter, his role has been to create attacking opportunities for a team often facing taller and more experienced opponents. His leadership in the difficult 2022 campaign helped provide continuity before the next generation took on larger roles.
Li Yongzhen (Middle Blocker)
Li provided one of China’s strongest individual performances in their first VNL Finals match. He recorded four kill blocks against Brazil in the 2025 quarterfinal and finished with eight points, helping China win the blocking battle 11–8. His performance demonstrated the net pressure China will need more consistently to move up the standings.
Memorable Match: Ningbo 2025 — China Challenge Brazil at Home
China 1–3 Brazil (31–29, 19–25, 16–25, 21–25) — VNL 2025 Quarterfinal, Ningbo
China’s first VNL Finals match began with the kind of set that can change how a team sees itself. Brazil entered the quarterfinal as the top side from the Preliminary Phase, while China had finished 17th and advanced only through the host berth.
The difference in the standings disappeared during the opening set. China recovered from four points behind, fed off the atmosphere at Beilun Gymnasium and won 31–29. They remained competitive deep into the second and fourth sets, but Brazil’s serving runs — especially with setter Fernando ‘Cachopa’ Kreling behind the line — repeatedly broke the hosts’ rhythm.
Brazil eventually won in four, but China left with meaningful positives. They outblocked the eventual bronze medallists, produced several double-digit scorers and showed that the home Finals appearance could be more than a ceremonial invitation. It remains the clearest image of what the Heynen project is trying to build.
Head Coaches
| VNL Editions / Period | Coach | Nationality | Key Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2019 | Raúl Lozano | Argentine | Led China in the first two VNL editions |
| 2022–2023 | Wu Sheng | Chinese | 13th in 2022; relegated after 2023 |
| 2024–present | Vital Heynen | Belgian | 2024 Challenger Cup title; first Finals in 2025 |
China’s VNL coaching history has moved from short-term competition management toward a broader rebuilding project. Lozano oversaw the launch years, Wu Sheng guided the post-pandemic return, and Heynen arrived in 2024 with the immediate task of restoring China’s VNL status. His Challenger Cup success delivered promotion, while the 2025 home Finals gave the new cycle its first high-profile benchmark.
China VNL Records at a Glance
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Total VNL medals | 0 |
| Best finish | 8th place — 2025 |
| First Finals appearance | 2025, as hosts in Ningbo |
| Best Preliminary Phase position | 13th place — 2022 |
| Most wins in one Preliminary Phase | 3 — 2018, 2022 and 2025 |
| Standout individual campaign | Jiang Chuan — leading spiker and second-highest scorer in 2018 |
| Best single-match scoring mark | Jiang Chuan — 37 points vs France in 2018 |
| Route back to the VNL | 2024 Challenger Cup champions |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has China ever won a men’s VNL medal?
No. China have not reached a VNL semifinal or won a medal. Their best final position through 2025 is eighth place, achieved when they appeared in the 2025 Finals as the host nation.
When did China first reach the VNL Finals?
China made their first VNL Finals appearance in 2025. Ningbo hosted the men’s knockout stage, so China received the host berth despite finishing 17th in the Preliminary Phase. They lost the quarterfinal to Brazil 1–3.
How many VNL editions did China compete in from 2018 to 2025?
China competed in five completed editions: 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025. The 2020 tournament was cancelled, China withdrew in 2021 and they were outside the competition in 2024.
Why did China not play in VNL 2021?
The Chinese Volleyball Association withdrew because of financial limitations, pandemic-related travel restrictions, entry-quarantine requirements and a clash with the National Games of China. The Netherlands replaced China for that edition.
Why did China miss VNL 2024?
China finished last in the 2023 VNL and lost their place for the following season. They returned by winning the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Linyi, defeating Belgium 3–1 in the final.
What is China’s best Preliminary Phase finish?
China’s best Preliminary Phase position through 2025 is 13th place in 2022. They finished with a 3–9 record and nine points.
Who is China’s key VNL player?
Opposite and captain Jiang Chuan is the central figure in China’s VNL history. He was the leading spiker and second-highest scorer in 2018, returned to captain the team in 2023 and led China with 98 points in the 2025 Preliminary Phase.
Who is China’s men’s national team coach?
Belgian coach Vital Heynen has led China since 2024. He guided the team to the 2024 Challenger Cup title and then to their first VNL Finals appearance in 2025.
Quick Summary
- Five completed appearances: China competed in the men’s VNL in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025.
- No medals yet: The team has never reached a semifinal; its best finish is eighth place in 2025.
- A stop-start history: The 2020 tournament was cancelled, China withdrew in 2021 and relegation kept them out in 2024.
- The route back: China defeated Belgium 3–1 to win the 2024 Challenger Cup and qualify for the expanded 2025 VNL.
- First Finals appearance: As hosts in Ningbo, China won the opening set against Brazil before losing the 2025 quarterfinal in four sets.
- The rebuild: Vital Heynen’s team is centred on experienced captain Jiang Chuan and a developing group led by players such as Zhang Jingyin and Li Yongzhen.
Coverage note: This article covers completed men’s VNL editions through 2025. Results from the ongoing 2026 tournament are not included in the historical totals until the competition concludes.
Last updated: July 2026
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