Brazil Defeats Iran in 2026 VNL Opener, Extending 12-Year Jinx

Tehran - BORNA - The match commenced at 2:30 AM Thursday (Tehran Time). Under the guidance of head coach Roberto Piazza, Team Melli fell 3-1 (25−21,23−25,25−15,25−23) to the tournament hosts.

Iran will look to bounce back quickly as they face Bulgaria in their second match later tonight at 11:00 PM.

Team Lineups

Iran: Mohammad Valizadeh, Poriya Hossein Khanzadeh, Arshia Behnezhad, Ali Hajipour, Ali Haghparast, Issa Nasari, and Mohammad Reza Hazratpour (Libero).

Head Coach: Roberto Piazza

Brazil: Fernando Kreling, Darlan Souza, Flávio Gualberto, Matheus Pinta, Ricardo Lucarelli, Adriano Xavier, and Maique Reis Nascimento (Libero).

Head Coach: Bernardo Rezende

Match Report

Set 1: Brazil 25–21 Iran

Brazil claimed the opening point, but Iran quickly responded. A powerful serve by Haghparast disrupted Brazil's reception, allowing Khanzadeh to convert the transition ball for a 3-2 lead. A clever tip by Hajipour deflected off Lucarelli’s block and went out of bounds, putting Iran ahead 7-6. The teams traded errors, and a missed serve by Haghparast leveled the score at 9-9. Flávio then shut down Khanzadeh's attack to give Brazil a 13-12 edge.

A communication error in Iran's back row forced Nasari into an awkward under-net contact, tying the game at 17-17. Iran reclaimed a 21-19 lead after Lucarelli failed to control a fierce serve from Khanzadeh. However, Darlan Souza spearheaded Brazil's comeback, targeting Haghparast’s block to push Brazil ahead 23-21. Following a blocked spike from Hajipour and a poor set by Behnezhad that ruined Iran's final attack, Brazil secured the opening set 25-21.

Set 2: Iran 25–23 Brazil

Behnezhad attempted consecutive quick sets to Valizadeh, but Brazil's defense held firm, and Darlan finished a grueling rally to level the set at 4-4. A moment of controversy occurred when Piazza requested a video challenge for a net fault. The referee initially awarded the point to Brazil despite the protest, issuing yellow cards to Hajipour and Mojtaba Esfandiar. However, after a secondary review, the officiating crew reversed the decision, confirming the net fault and awarding the point to Iran.

After spiking for Iran's 12th point, Khanzadeh delivered a powerful serve that Nascimento could not contain, extending Iran's lead to 13-10. Later in the set, the referee ruled that a deflected ball touched Haghparast’s shoulder before going out, awarding a point to Brazil. Piazza successfully challenged the call, proving no contact was made, which moved Iran ahead 16-13.

Leading 22-20, Iran faced a fierce Brazilian comeback as Adriano converted a pipe attack, followed by a quick middle attack that tied the set at 22-22. Nasari then came up huge at the net, executing consecutive blocks to seal the set 25-23 for Iran.

Set 3: Brazil 25–15 Iran

Lucarelli opened the third set with a successful pipe attack. Trailing 5-4, Iran lost a prolonged rally to Darlan, who extended Brazil's lead to 6-4. Iran's blockers struggled to contain Darlan, who pushed the score to 10-7. Piazza successfully challenged an 11th point for Brazil, showing that Kreling had interfered with Behnezhad over the net, reversing the point to Iran.

With Iran trailing 14-8, Piazza called a timeout to urge his players to stay composed. However, Brazil's aggressive serving continued to dismantle Iran's reception. An ace by Adriano widened the gap to 16-8. Piazza substituted Morteza Sharifi and Omran Kookjili into the game, but unforced errors persisted. Mobin Nasri served out of bounds, allowing Brazil to lead 21-14. Adriano scored another ace to make it 23-14, and Brazil comfortably took the set 25-15.

Set 4: Brazil 25–23 Iran

Iran started the fourth set strong, establishing a 5-3 lead. Flávio blocked Hajipour to level the score at 7-7. Khanzadeh then stepped up, forcing a poor reception from Brazil with a heavy serve and finishing the subsequent play to put Iran ahead 11-9. Nasari converted a quick set for 15-12, and a net violation by Kreling prompted Brazil's coach, Rezende, to call a timeout with Iran leading 17-12.

Holding a 20-18 lead, a miscommunication between Kookjili and Valizadeh resulted in a dead ball on Iran's side, allowing Brazil to tie the game at 20-20. Hajipour sent a crucial spike wide, making it 22-22. Iran challenged for an antenna touch, but the review was unsuccessful. A wide spike by Sharifi gave Brazil match point at 24-23, and the hosts claimed the final dramatic rally to take the set 25-23 and win the match.

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