Volleyball World Announces Landmark Global Partnership with DECATHLON

Beginning in March 2026, DECATHLON will produce and distribute an exclusive VNL (Volleyball Nations League) merchandise collection, available both in select DECATHLON stores located in VNL host cities and across VNL host and participating countries, including France, Italy, Germany, Serbia, Slovenia, Poland, Turkey, Switzerland, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Brazil, Canada and Japan, placing the competition at the centre of in-store activations during the season and globally through DECATHLON’s e-commerce platforms.

The initiative reinforces Decathlon’s growing commitment to volleyball and reflects the company’s long-term ambition to elevate the sport within its expanding international portfolio.

The licensed product range will include official VNL fan-merchandise, including volleyball balls, sportswear, and volleyball accessories designed to bring fans closer to the competition’s teams, athletes and identity complementing the VNL’s official game ball supplied by Mikasa*. To enhance the global fan experience, the VNL will be supported by new fan engagement experiences and digital touchpoints throughout the season, in which DECATHLON will play an integrated role - reaching tens of millions of fans monthly. 

This agreement positions the Volleyball Nations League alongside  a select portfolio of DECATHLON’s global sports collaborations, such as major international sporting events and long-term partnerships across key global sports.

The announcement comes at a moment of exceptional momentum for the VNL with record-breaking attendance, strong broadcast growth, rising youth participation, and a natural alignment between the sport’s community-driven culture and DECATHLON’s mission to make sport accessible to everyone. 

Ugo Valensi, CEO of Volleyball World, said: 
“This partnership is a milestone for the VNL and Volleyball World. It marks the first time we’ve entered a global, multi-channel retail collaboration with a major sporting goods brand, and DECATHLON’s passion for volleyball has been evident from the outset. Their commitment to developing the sport and making it more accessible reflects our shared ambition for global growth. Together, we are building a new retail and fan-engagement ecosystem that will bring VNL closer to people everywhere, and we’re excited about the positive impact this will have on the global volleyball community.” 

Grégory Volpi, Volleyball Sport Leader at DECATHLON affirmed:
“Volleyball is a universal sport that brings together millions of players around the world. At DECATHLON, our ambition is to make this passion accessible to as many people as possible. Becoming the Official Merchandising Partner of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) represents a major strategic milestone for our brand, combining our product expertise and innovation capabilities with one of the most visible and prestigious international volleyball competitions. We are proud to welcome the VNL into DECATHLON’s Volleyball family and to collaborate with Volleyball World to jointly contribute to the development and global reach of the sport’s worldwide community.”

Volleyball World is a commercial joint venture between the FIVB and private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, created to drive innovation, digital transformation, and growth across the sport of volleyball globally. With a mission to modernize the game and expand its fanbase, Volleyball World oversees media, events, and fan engagement for all major international competitions.

A global multi-specialist sports brand catering for everyone from beginners to top athletes, DECATHLON is an innovative manufacturer of sporting goods for all skill levels. With over 101,100 teammates and 1,817 stores worldwide, DECATHLON and its teams have been working ever since 1976 to make the joys and benefits of sport truly accessible to all.

*The official match ball of the Volleyball Nations League is supplied by Mikasa and available for purchase. Volleyballs included in the DECATHLON merchandise range are licensed fan products and are not used in official VNL competition.