Türkiye begin their title defense at the 2026 CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship on Friday against Latvia, opening their campaign in front of a home crowd in Istanbul with expectations high after another trophy-filled season.

The tournament runs through Sept. 6 and is co-hosted by Türkiye, Czechia, Azerbaijan and Sweden. Türkiye will host Pool A matches and the later knockout stages in Istanbul, with the final scheduled for Sept. 6 at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall.

The Sultans of the Net enter as European champions and one of the world's leading teams after winning the 2026 Volleyball Nations League.

Türkiye defeated Brazil 3-1 in the VNL final in Macau last month, adding another major trophy to a remarkable period under Italian coach Daniele Santarelli.

Türkiye won its first European Championship title in 2023 and has continued to establish itself among the world's elite. The team also won the VNL in 2023, reached the 2025 World Championship final and finished fourth at the Paris Olympics.

At the 2026 VNL, Türkiye finished fourth in the preliminary phase before beating Canada and China in the knockout rounds and overcoming Brazil in the final.

That form has made Türkiye one of the favorites to retain the European crown, while playing at home adds another advantage.

Santarelli has a deep roster at his disposal. Melissa Vargas enters EuroVolley as the 2026 VNL MVP. Ebrar Karakurt, Hande Baladın, İlkin Aydın and Saliha Şahin provide attacking options, while Zehra Güneş, veteran captain Eda Erdem and Sinead Jack-Kısal strengthen the middle.

Cansu Özbay and Elif Şahin give Santarelli options at setter, while Gizem Örge and Simge Aköz provide experience at libero.

The squad's depth should allow Santarelli to rotate players following a demanding VNL campaign while maintaining a high level throughout the group stage.

Latvia are back at the European Championship after a long absence. Their last senior appearance came in the 1990s, when they finished eighth in 1997 and ninth in both 1993 and 1995.

Their return reflects steady progress in recent years. Latvia were runners-up in the 2025 European Silver League and have improved through the lower levels of European competition.

Türkiye selected Latvia as its host-nation invitation team for the 2026 championship.

The opening match nevertheless presents a major challenge for Latvia. Türkiye's superior ranking, recent international success and greater experience make the hosts heavy favorites.

For Latvia, the match offers a valuable opportunity to measure their development against one of Europe's strongest teams.

Baladın said the chance to defend the European title at home creates pressure but also gives the team additional motivation.

"We are playing in a major tournament like the European Championship, at home, and as the reigning European champions. Of course we want to keep this title," Baladın told NTV.

She acknowledged the expectations surrounding the team but said the support from Turkish fans can turn that pressure into energy.

"This naturally creates big pressure, but at the same time it really excites us more to play in front of our own crowd, feeling their energy, support and positive emotions," she said. "I hope that at Sinan Erdem we can raise this energy to the highest level together and experience many beautiful moments."

Baladın has become an important part of Türkiye's rise, developing into a versatile outside hitter after beginning her career as a middle blocker.

Her ambitions extend beyond the European Championship. Türkiye's long-term target is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the team hopes to win the Olympic medal that has so far eluded it.

Türkiye reached the quarterfinals at Tokyo 2020 and the semifinals at Paris 2024, ultimately finishing fourth.

Türkiye's Pool A schedule is:

Aug. 21: Türkiye vs. Latvia, 7 p.m.

Aug. 23: Slovenia vs. Türkiye, 7 p.m.

Aug. 24: Türkiye vs. Hungary, 7 p.m.

Aug. 26: Germany vs. Türkiye, 7 p.m.

Aug. 28: Türkiye vs. Poland, 7 p.m.

The top four teams in each pool advance to the Round of 16.

Latvia represents the most favorable opening matchup on paper, while Slovenia, Germany and Poland are expected to provide tougher tests.

A strong victory on Friday would give Türkiye an early boost in the standings and set ratio while allowing Santarelli to manage his squad ahead of the more demanding fixtures.

The home atmosphere could also prove decisive. Turkish fans are renowned for creating intense environments at international volleyball matches, and Sinan Erdem is expected to be packed for the opening night.

With Istanbul also hosting later knockout rounds, Türkiye could potentially play its way to the final without leaving familiar territory.