Japan SHOCKED the World !!! One of the Craziest Comeback in Volleyball History !!!

Japan SHOCKED the World !!! One of the Craziest Comeback in Volleyball History !!! Japan produced a remarkable comeback against Canada in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League 2026, winning 3–2 in Osaka on July 16. After losing the first two sets, Japan fought back to win 18–25, 24–26, 29–27, 25–19, 15–11 in front of 7,377 fans.

Canada was closing in on a straight-sets victory. With a 22–19 lead in the third set, the Canadians were just three points away from winning the match. Japan refused to give up, forced the set beyond 25 points, and finally won it 29–27 on its fifth set point. That escape changed the match. Japan took the fourth set 25–19 and completed the comeback with a 15–11 victory in the fifth.

Head coach Laurent Tillie made several changes as the match unfolded, and Japan’s new lineup brought the energy needed to turn it around. Tatsunori Otsuka led Japan with 18 points, followed by Kento Miyaura with 15, Shoma Tomita with 14, and Larry Ik Evbade-Dan with 12.

Captain Yuki Ishikawa also reached a historic milestone. His seven successful attacks in the match took him to 1,004 career VNL attack points, making him the first player to pass the 1,000 mark.

Canada delivered a fierce challenge. Jackson Young was the match’s leading scorer with 21 points, while Jackson Howe scored 17, including five blocks. Canada dominated at the net with 16 blocks to Japan’s five, but Japan finished with more attack kills, 74–66, more aces, 4–2, and fewer unforced errors, 24–28.

The victory gave Japan a perfect 10–0 record at that point in the preliminary round and secured its place in the VNL Finals. Six of those ten wins had come in five sets. For Canada, it was a heartbreaking seventh fifth-set defeat of the season.

Two sets down and trailing 22–19 in the third, Japan looked beaten. What followed was an extraordinary fightback in Osaka—and another unforgettable chapter in Japan’s VNL 2026 campaign.

Like, Share,
🔔 Don't Forget to

All Credits by FIVB:

Volleyball TV: go.volleyball.world/TV

Watch ALL the Volleyball Action go.volleyball.world/TV

.volleyball.world/ ...

News, Schedules, Results & more: go.volleyball.world/VNL

FOLLOW VOLLEYBALL WORLD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: go.volleyball.world/Instagram...

Facebook: go.volleyball.world/Facebook?...

Twitter: go.volleyball.world/Twitter...

More info: go.volleyball.world/home