Published: 12:05, 22 Sept 2025
USA facing Slovenia during a VNL 2025 match.
Monday marks Day 10 of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in the Philippines, bringing two highly anticipated eighthfinal encounters in Pasay City. Kicking off the day, Bulgaria and Portugal, two teams that have impressed during the pool stage, will vie for a coveted spot in the quarterfinals. Following that, a formidable clash awaits as USA takes on Slovenia, with both teams eager to secure the fourth ticket to the next round.
Match Previews
Eighthfinal 5: Bulgaria v Portugal
The day`s first eighthfinal features Bulgaria against Portugal, starting at 15:30 local time (07:30 UTC). Both teams emerged as `pleasant surprises` from the group stage, making this a compelling matchup. Their recent history includes a 2019 VNL win for Portugal over Bulgaria, followed by Bulgaria`s 3-1 victory at the CEV European Championship later that year.
Bulgaria, with a rich history of five World Championship medals (including 1970 silver and 2006 bronze), enters this stage undefeated, having topped Pool E by confidently defeating higher-ranked opponents Germany in straight sets and Slovenia in five sets, alongside a shutout victory over Chile. Their standout player, 21-year-old Aleksandar Nikolov, was a key force, leading the pool stage in attacks and ranking second in overall scoring.
Portugal, whose best World Championship finish was eighth in 2002, stormed the 2025 edition by upsetting Cuba 3-1. Despite a straight-sets loss to the USA, they demonstrated remarkable resilience by staging a two-set comeback against Colombia to secure second place in Pool D. Nuno Marques, a 22-year-old outside hitter, was Portugal`s leading scorer in the pool stage.
Eighthfinal 6: USA v Slovenia
The second eighthfinal, scheduled for 20:00 local time (12:00 UTC), pits USA against Slovenia in what promises to be a high-level contest. Their recent head-to-head record is evenly split within the last five years, with Slovenia winning a VNL 2025 match in four sets, and USA securing a 3-1 victory in a 2023 Olympic qualifier.
The USA, three-time World Championship medalists (1986 champions, 1994 & 2018 bronze), dominated Pool D, dropping only one set en route to first place with comprehensive wins over Colombia, Portugal, and Cuba. Opposite Gabriel Garcia has been their leading scorer in the tournament so far.
Slovenia, who achieved their best World Championship finish with a fourth place in 2022, started strong in Pool E with a sweep against Chile. Despite a five-set loss to Bulgaria, they rebounded with a crucial four-set win over Germany to secure second place in their pool. Their star middle blocker Jan Kozamernik was notably the second-best blocker of the pool stage, while opposite Toncek Stern proved to be their most prolific scorer with 53 points.
FIVB Men’s World Championship Schedule – Monday, September 22, 2025:
- 15:30 local (07:30 UTC): Bulgaria v Portugal
- 20:00 local (12:00 UTC): USA v Slovenia
Oliver Wrenwick