Queens of the Caribbean begin defense of the NORCECA title against Costa Rica

The Queens of the Caribbean begin the defense of their crown at the NORCECA Continental Championship

The Queens of the Caribbean are ready for a new international challenge. This Friday, the Dominican Republic women’s national volleyball team begins its participation in the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship with the firm goal of retaining the title won in the last three editions of the tournament (2019, 2021, and 2023). The debut will be against Costa Rica, at 8:30 p.m., at the Ricardo Gioriber Arias Volleyball Palace, located at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.

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The Queens of the Caribbean begin the defense of their crown at the NORCECA Continental Championship Format and path to World Cup qualification Road to Los Angeles 2028 Opening day schedule (August 21)

The Dominican team arrives at this match in an excellent emotional and competitive state, having recently won its seventh consecutive title at the Central American Games. This tournament not only represents the opportunity to add a new continental trophy, but it is also a key piece in the roadmap toward a historic fifth qualification for the Olympic Games, with sights set on Los Angeles 2028.

Format and path to World Cup qualification

The NORCECA Continental Championship features the participation of eight nations: the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, and the host, the Dominican Republic. In addition to the prestige of the title, the event is vital for the teams’ international aspirations, as it grants three spots for the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship.

The tournament structure is divided as follows:

Group A: United States, Canada, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago.
Group B: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Costa Rica.

The winners of each group will earn a direct pass to the semifinals, while the teams that finish in second and third place will have to face each other in the quarterfinals scheduled for August 24. The semifinals are scheduled for the 25th, culminating with the grand final and the medal matches on August 26.

The Dominican Republic seeks to consolidate its dominance in the region and add its fifth continental title, supported by its fans at the Volleyball Palace, while keeping alive the dream of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Road to Los Angeles 2028

The relevance of this competition transcends the continental podium. The four best teams in the final standings (excluding the United States due to its status as the host country) will earn the right to compete in the NORCECA Continental Qualifier. This decisive tournament will take place at the same Volleyball Palace on August 28 and 29, where a direct spot for the Olympic event will be contested.