TEHRAN - The Iranian men’s national volleyball team has secured its fourth consecutive Asian Games championship after defeating host nation Japan 3-1 in the gold medal match of the 2026 Nagoya Games on Saturday.
Led by head coach Roberto Piazza, the Iranian squad overcame Laurent Tillie’s side in a tightly contested final to defend their title, claiming the victory with set scores of 28-26, 19-25, 25-21, and 26-24. The loss leaves Japan with the silver medal.
En route to the final, Iran dominated the group stage with consecutive victories over Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, and Indonesia. The team then eliminated South Korea in the quarterfinals before overcoming Pakistan in the semifinals.
Having secured the top podium spot in the previous three editions of the quadrennial event, Saturday’s triumph successfully defends Iran’s title and cements the nation’s sustained dominance in continental volleyball.