SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, July 15, 2026. – Belize made history by capturing the gold medal at the third edition of the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four, claiming the first Central American senior men’s title in the country’s history with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21) victory over Costa Rica in the championship match.
Belize emerged as the tournament’s standout team. From its opening match, it established itself as a serious title contender and finished the preliminary round with a 2-1 record, its only loss coming against Panama on the final day before completing a remarkable campaign with victory in the final.
With this result, Belize earns its first-ever gold medal in a Central American senior men’s competition, a milestone that reflects the steady growth of its men’s volleyball program in recent years.
In the championship match, Belize controlled play for much of the contest. After taking the opening two sets, Costa Rica responded by winning the third to extend the match. However, the Belizeans quickly regained control in the fourth set, maintained their advantage at the key moments, and closed out a historic victory to secure the title.
Belize held the edge in attacks (49-47) and aces (6-2), while both teams finished even in blocks (10-10). Costa Rica also committed 30 unforced errors, compared to 27 by the champions.
Ernest Broaster led Belize’s offense with 22 points, while Francis Hauze added 19.
For Costa Rica, Stanley Grant also scored 22 points, while Gilberth Solano contributed 13.
Following the historic victory, Belize head coach Alber Humes said: “In every tournament we fought and fought but always came up just short. This victory is incredibly important for us and for this group of players who gave everything. The Final Four is a great tournament because every team comes well prepared, and in the end, the team that wants it the most wins the title.”
Costa Rica captain Andrés Araya commented: “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but we fought until the end. We must recognize that Belize has a very strong offense with physically powerful players who are difficult to contain. Personally, this tournament has been an eye-opener, showing us many areas where we can improve.”
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