The VNL medal table provides a long-term view of national team success across every completed edition of the Volleyball Nations League. It brings together gold, silver and bronze medals from the men’s and women’s competitions and shows which programs have combined championship peaks with repeated podium finishes.
Since the competition was introduced in 2018, its balance of power has shifted between different national teams and competitive cycles. Early dominance gave way to a broader European rise, while several established programs became defined as much by consistency and repeated finals appearances as by titles.
| Data status: All medal counts are updated through the 2026 edition and verified against official Volleyball World records. The 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so no medals were awarded. Tables are ranked by gold medals, followed by silver and bronze; total medals do not determine the order. For qualification, points and knockout rules, see our complete guide to the VNL format. |
Women’s VNL Medal Table
The women’s medal table reflects two distinct championship cycles. The United States controlled the opening era, while Italy and Türkiye became the leading title-winning teams in the seasons that followed.
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| United States | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Türkiye | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Brazil | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| China | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Japan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Poland | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Serbia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Gold breakdown – United States: 2018, 2019, 2021. Italy: 2022, 2024, 2025. Türkiye: 2023, 2026.
The United States set the first benchmark by winning the opening three completed editions. Italy then built the strongest title run of the next cycle, collecting gold in 2022, 2024 and 2025 before adding the first bronze medal in its VNL history in 2026. That bronze places Italy above the United States in the medal-table order because both teams have three titles.
Türkiye’s 2026 championship was its second VNL title and fourth podium finish overall. Brazil remains the most frequent women’s medallist by total appearances, but all five of its medals are silver. Poland’s three consecutive bronze medals from 2023 through 2025 represent another form of consistency, even without a final appearance during that run.
Men’s VNL Medal Table
The men’s competition has produced more title-winning nations, but Poland now stand alone as the most successful program in VNL history. Their combination of three championships and seven total medals separates them from the rest of the field.
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Russia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| United States | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Japan | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Italy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Gold breakdown – Russia: 2018, 2019. Brazil: 2021. France: 2022, 2024. Poland: 2023, 2025, 2026.
Russia won the first two editions and Brazil followed in 2021, before France and Poland became the defining title contenders of the modern men’s VNL. Poland’s 2026 victory over the United States delivered a third championship and a second consecutive title. Poland have now medalled in every completed edition since 2019.
The United States have reached four VNL finals – in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2026 – but finished with silver each time. Japan’s bronze in 2023 and silver in 2024 confirmed its rise into the medal group, while Italy earned its first VNL medal in 2025. In 2026, Slovenia claimed its first medal after three previous fourth-place finishes.
Combined VNL Medal Table
Combining the men’s and women’s competitions shows which countries have built the broadest medal-producing national team programs. The ranking follows the standard medal-table method: gold first, then silver, then bronze.
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| Poland | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Türkiye | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Russia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Brazil | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| Japan | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| China | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Serbia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The United States lead the combined ranking under the standard medal-table system because their three gold medals are supported by four silvers. Poland and Italy also have three golds, but Poland rank above Italy on bronze medals after both countries are tied on gold and silver.
Total podium appearances tell a different story. Poland hold the overall record with 10 medals across both competitions, driven by seven men’s medals and three women’s bronzes. Brazil have seven combined medals but only one gold, illustrating how repeated finals appearances do not always translate into championships. Türkiye and France are level on two golds, one silver and one bronze each.
How VNL Power Has Shifted
- Five patterns that define the VNL medal eraEarly women’s dynasty: The United States won the first three completed editions and established the original benchmark.
- European expansion: Italy, Türkiye, Poland and France became the central medal powers in the seasons that followed.
- Poland’s men set the consistency standard: Poland have reached the podium in every completed edition since 2019.
- The podium is still expanding: Italy’s men earned their first medal in 2025, and Slovenia followed with their first in 2026.
- Runner-up records matter: Brazil’s women and the United States men have repeatedly reached finals without converting those appearances into a title.
Notable VNL Medal Records
- Most total medals – men: Poland – 7 (3 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze)
- Most total medals – women: Brazil – 5, all silver
- Most total medals – combined: Poland – 10 across both competitions
- Most gold medals – men: Poland – 3
- Most gold medals – women: United States and Italy – 3 each
- Most silver medals – men: United States – 4
- Most silver medals – women: Brazil – 5
- Most finals without a title – men: United States – 4
- Most finals without a title – women: Brazil – 5
- Men’s consistency record: Poland have medalled in every completed edition since 2019
Historical Significance
The VNL medal table confirms that modern international volleyball is defined less by uninterrupted national dominance than by competitive cycles. Different teams have peaked at different moments, while long-term strength is often visible through repeated podium finishes rather than titles alone.
This article is part of the VolleyCommunity VNL history series, together with VNL Champions, VNL MVP Winners and our tournament format guide. Together, these pages provide a connected reference for championships, individual awards, medal records and competition structure.
Updated through 2026
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