The 2025 FIVB Men`s Volleyball World Championship has seen a strong European contingent advance, with 11 out of 15 participating teams from the continent securing their spots in the knockout phase. However, the tournament has already delivered major surprises, as prominent nations like reigning Olympic champions France and Germany were unexpectedly eliminated early after suffering two losses in the preliminary round.
Held in the Philippines, the preliminary round featured 32 teams, meticulously divided into eight pools of four. The competition structure dictated that only the top two teams from each pool would progress to the highly anticipated knockout stage.
European teams showcased their dominance by winning five of the seven pools in which they competed. A select group of three European nations—Türkiye, Bulgaria, and the current European champions Poland—distinguished themselves by achieving a perfect record of three wins without a single defeat.
The most significant upset of the championship thus far has undoubtedly been the premature exit of France. The reigning Olympic champions and fourth-place finishers at the CEV EuroVolley 2023 Men were stunned by narrow 3:2 defeats against both Finland and Argentina. This unexpected turn of events led to an 18th-place finish for France, matching their worst performance in the history of the competition.
In contrast, Finland is on track to achieve its best-ever result in the tournament and could solidify this with a victory over Belgium in the Round of 16. This particular match is one of three all-European encounters scheduled for this phase, guaranteeing that at least three European teams will secure berths in the quarter-finals.
Belgium has emerged as one of the tournament`s surprise packages, remarkably winning all three of their preliminary matches and conceding only two sets. Their stunning 3:2 triumph over Italy in the preliminary round has firmly established them as a dark horse contender.
Before their clash against Finland, Belgium’s Seppe Rotty shared his aspirations: “Personally, I hope we can continue the momentum. The team feels mentally and physically strong, and we believe we can perform effectively under pressure. We are ready to seize our opportunities.”
Another compelling all-European fixture will see Bulgaria take on Portugal. Bulgaria has distinguished itself as a potential medal candidate, delivering a flawless preliminary round performance with decisive victories against Germany (3:0), Slovenia (3:2), and Chile (3:0).
Since securing their last medal in 2006, Bulgaria had experienced a downward trend, with their seventh-place finish in 2010 being their best subsequent showing. However, their recent displays against formidable European opposition have emphatically proven their current competitive strength.
Captain Aleks Grozdanov expressed his pride and focus: “It’s amazing to be part of this team. I’m incredibly happy that the boys have developed so rapidly to such a high level. While I’m not yet certain of our next opponent, for me, the most crucial aspect is our own game, our performance on our side of the court, and ensuring we prepare for it as thoroughly as possible.”
The third all-European showdown will feature Türkiye battling the Netherlands. Türkiye has exhibited remarkable consistency, having dropped only a single set throughout the tournament and securing straight-set wins against both Canada and Japan. A victory in this match would secure their best-ever finish in the competition, surpassing their previous record of 11th place, achieved in 2022.
On the other side, the Netherlands, despite possessing considerable firepower, succumbed to a 1:3 defeat against Poland. Their victory over Romania (25:23; 26:24; 26:24) was also narrowly contested. Nonetheless, they remain a formidable opponent capable of posing challenges to any team in the knockout stage.
Poland enters their Round of 16 match as heavy favorites against Canada. Similarly, Czechia is expected to overcome Tunisia, despite having finished second in their pool. Their recent confidence-boosting win against Serbia will undoubtedly provide them with an advantage.
Serbia, who emerged as pool winners after Czechia’s victory over China and Brazil’s elimination, are set to face the Islamic Republic of Iran. Meanwhile, Slovenia anticipates a tough encounter against the United States of America as they vie for a coveted spot in the quarter-finals.
Argentina has been another surprising standout of the tournament, impressively winning their group primarily due to their upset victory over France. They now face a monumental task in the Round of 16, coming up against the reigning world champions, Italy.
Italy, despite their 2:3 loss to Belgium, secured commanding victories against Ukraine and Algeria. However, they are now confronted with a daunting, winner-takes-all contest against Argentina, where their pursuit of defending the title hangs precariously in the balance.
Italy’s opposite hitter, Yuri Romanò, commented on their performance: “We played exceptionally well from the start against Ukraine and maintained our composure during difficult moments. Our aim now is to sustain this level of performance. The teams here are incredibly evenly matched, so we must play well in every single match, anticipate challenging situations, and be fully prepared to face them.”
The exciting Round of 16 matches for the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship are scheduled to unfold between September 20 and 23, with two captivating games taking place daily in Pasay City.
Finley Blackwood 
Jasper Thornfield