Quintet of Volleyball giants awarded wildcards to join CEV Champions League 2027

On Tuesday, the CEV Board of Administration confirmed the allocation of the five wildcards available to contest the 2027 edition of the elite CEV Champions League Volley. Italy’s TRENTINO Itas, Spain’s Guaguas LAS PALMAS, and Romania’s Dinamo BUCURESTI are the recipients of the three wildcards at stake for the men’s competition, whereas Italy’s Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA and Türkiye’s Galatasaray Daikin ISTANBUL secured the two available slots in the women’s division. The inclusion of such star-studded teams will help raise even further the already formidable level of the world’s premier club competition.  

TRENTINO Itas do not only represent the incredibly strong Italian Volleyball league – they also have a rich history in the competition, with three titles in a row between 2009 and 2011 and they most recently triumphed in 2024 when they claimed the last Super Finals held in Antalya. After a season marred by injuries, TRENTINO will have an opportunity to redeem themselves by competing with the top sides in Europe and add another chapter to their unparalleled success story. 

Spanish national champions Guaguas LAS PALMAS caused a sensation in 2024 as well as in 2026 by reaching the quarterfinals of the #CLVolleyM after starting their journey from the early rounds on both occasions. The team from the Canary Islands have showed not only total supremacy in domestic competitions, but also their ability to challenge the most decorated teams as well. Earlier this season, they took eventual winners Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA to a fifth set in the pool stage of the competition as well as in the quarterfinals – the only opponent able to do so against Simone Giannelli & Co.  

Romania’s Dinamo BUCURESTI represent a multi-sport club that has achieved remarkable success across a variety of disciplines – and their Volleyball pedigree is equally impressive as well, with three titles from the former CEV Champions Cup (in 1966, 1967, and 1981). They are now hoping to revive the memories of those glorious days and – just like TRENTINO and Guaguas – their journey in the 2027 #CLVolleyM will start from the group stage (Round 4). 

The wildcard recipients in the women’s competition are real Volleyball heavyweights as well. Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA are former #CLVolleyW winners – from the historic Super Finals held in 2019 in Berlin – and more recently they won the Challenge Cup and CEV Cup on consecutive years (2024 and 2025). Last season, they reached the Playoff Round – where they lost at the Golden Set to their domestic rivals Savino Del bene SCANDICCI. As for Galatasaray Daikin ISTANBUL, earlier this year they secured a long-awaited and much-desired continental trophy for the first time in their history when they won the CEV Cup. They will contest the #CLVolleyW for the first time since 2018 – with their best result to this day a fourth place from the 2013 edition, when they hosted the Final Four. Both NOVARA and Galatasaray will start the competition from Round 4 as well. 

“I would like to thank all the clubs who expressed their interest in joining the Champions League and prepared their applications with so much care and diligence. The quality of their applications clearly shows and reflects the immense value of this iconic competition – everyone out there dreams to be a part of it,” says CEV President Roko Sikirić. “The approved allocations further strengthen the CEV Champions League Volley by bringing together established Volleyball powers and ambitious clubs from a broad range of European Volleyball markets. This approach supports the continued development, visibility and long-term growth of Europe's premier club competition while maintaining the highest sporting standards. With the addition of these five teams to those qualified as per the European Ranking and the results of domestic competitions, we make sure that the CEV Champions League remains a real benchmark of quality and excellence from a sporting and commercial perspective. The cream of the crop of the global Volleyball community will again entertain fans with actions of the finest level.” 

The full list of participating teams will be released in due course, with the Drawing of Lots for all rounds and all European club competitions scheduled for this coming July 15 at 12:00 CEST.