The Philippines will host this year’s men’s Volleyball World Championship starting on September 12. Ranked 82nd in the world, they are out to prove that they belong among the world’s best.
The Philippines join Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia in Pool A. Poland, the Netherlands, Qatar, and Romania are in Pool B. France, Argentina, Finland, and South Korea are in Pool C. The United States, Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia are in Pool D. Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria, and Chile are in Pool E. Italy, Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria are in Pool F. Japan, Turkey, Canada, and Libya are in Pool G. Brazil, Serbia, China, and the Czech Republic represent Pool H.
The games are to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. 32 teams are divided into eight pools, and the top two seeds from each pool will advance to the knockouts, where every match is do-or-die.
Philippines plan to make history
Despite their modest ranking, the Philippines are participating in the Volleyball World Championship as the tournament’s hosts. The SBOTOP Volleyball World Championship 2025 odds aren’t optimistic about Alas Pilipinas’ chances, so the hosts’ objectives are to gain experience and gauge their overall progress in this competition, and maybe score a few upsets along the way.
Some of the Philippines’ standouts include Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Jack Kalingking, Kim Malabunga, and Owa Retamar. They may not have the experience in competing for the world championship. However, they know what it takes to win games together, as they were part of the historic 2019 SEA Games silver medalist squad.
Led by head coach Angiolino Frigoni, who brings more than three decades of experience at the national team and club level, the Philippines have done their part in preparing for their Volleyball World Championship debut.
Last May, they flew to New York for training, and they competed in the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup last June. Unfortunately for Alas Pilipinas, they failed to qualify for the final round, finishing dead last in Pool C below Pakistan and Chinese Taipei.
Italy picking up where they left off
Italy plan to win back-to-back Volleyball World Championships for the first time since their three-peat from 1990 to 1998, and they are in fine form heading into the showpiece event in the Philippines. Gli Azzurri won the FIPAV Cup Men Elite preparation tournament, sweeping continental rivals Turkey, Germany, and the Netherlands, who will also play in the World Championship.
The defending world champions met Turkey in the first match last Friday, winning 3-1 (25-19, 31-29, 19-25, 25-16), as opposite Kamil Rychlicki had 20 points and outside hitter Luca Porro contributed 14 points. A day later, they dominated Germany in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-22) victory. Rychlicki again led the Italians with 16 points, followed by outside hitter Mattia Bottolo, who recorded 11 points. Italy prevailed against the Netherlands in four sets last Sunday to cap off the tournament. In the 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-19) result, Bottolo was the team’s leading scorer with 20 points, and Francesco Sani added 17 points.
Each of the other three participating teams came away with one win and two losses. Germany scored a 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-12) win over the Netherlands on Friday. The Netherlands’ lone win was a 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-20) result against Turkey. Turkey also downed Germany in four sets last Sunday, 3-1 (31-29, 25-16, 21-25, 25-19).
Italy are currently in Japan to play a pair of friendly matches before they fly to the Philippines later this week.
Poland out for revenge
Poland will play with a huge chip on their shoulders heading into the Volleyball World Championship, especially after they lost to Italy in the previous final. The Poles are considered one of the world’s best teams, having made 18 appearances already, missing only the 1990 and 1994 editions, and winning three titles in 1974, 2014, and 2018, and two silvers in 2006 and 2022.
Poland are the top-seeded team heading into this tournament, as they are fresh from winning the men’s Volleyball Nations League last month. After clinching the fifth spot in the preliminary round, including thrilling wins against Japan and France, Poland never dropped a set in the final round, sweeping aside Japan, Brazil, and Italy.
Coached by former Serbian setter Nikola Grbic since 2022, the Poles have been as steady as they come. Their players can easily create new Volleyball World Championship 2025 highlights, as they have outside hitters Wilfredo León, Tomasz Fornal, and Kamil Semeniuk, opposite Bartosz Kurek, and middle blocker Jakub Kochanowski.
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