Identify the four teams that will appear in the semifinals of the 2026 AVC Cup.

The Vietnamese women's volleyball team's path to retaining the AVC Cup championship is still filled with many obstacles.

The 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Cup being held in Candon, Philippines, is approaching its final stages. After thrilling group‑stage matches, the four standout teams that secured semifinal berths have officially been revealed.

The three‑time defending AVC Cup champions — Vietnam are among them, thanks to finishing second in Group B. Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt and his squad are having a challenging tournament, as several key players are not at their best – something clearly reflected in their 2‑3 loss to Kazakhstan — the first defeat Vietnam has ever suffered in AVC Cup history, a hard‑fought 3‑2 win over Indonesia, and even in the 3‑0 victory against Iran.

Kazakhstan is the team from Group B that advanced to the semifinals alongside Vietnam. The Central Asian side played exceptionally well, boasting an unbeaten record and showing no drop in strength despite the absence of star Sana Anarkulova and many other familiar faces.

Group A theoretically featured a tighter contest among South Korea – a newcomer to the AVC Cup – Chinese Taipei, and the Philippines. However, like Kazakhstan, the host Philippines did not field its strongest squad and officially became the former runners‑up with a modest 2‑3 record.

The two spots to move on easily went to South Korea and Chinese Taipei, both having won four consecutive matches. They will meet on the evening of June 12 to determine the group winner, thereby deciding the semifinal pairings for this year's AVC Cup.

With the inclusion of South Korea – a team that once participated in the prestigious VNL – the Vietnamese women's volleyball team's quest to defend the AVC Cup title has become even more daunting. Though no longer an Asian powerhouse, South Korea, spearheaded by Kang So‑hwi and featuring a well‑balanced roster, still presents a significant challenge to the ambitions of Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt and his players.