Sunday promises two electrifying intercontinental eighthfinal matchups at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. The day`s action features China against France in the opening game, followed by Brazil clashing with the Dominican Republic. The winners of these crucial encounters will then face off on Thursday for a coveted berth in the semifinals.
Eighthfinal 1: China vs France
The first eighthfinal in the Thai capital will feature a captivating contest between China and France, serving off at 17:00 local time (10:00 UTC).
These two nations have recently met twice, with China securing straight-set victories in both instances: during last year’s Olympic Games in Paris and at this year’s Volleyball Nations League in Beijing.
China`s Dominance and Aspirations:
China boasts a storied history in the World Championship, having claimed two world titles in 1982 and 1986. They have also reached the podium four other times, with three silver medals and a bronze in 2018. Currently ranked fifth globally by the FIVB, the Asian powerhouse enters these eighthfinals as the undefeated champions of Pool F. Their path included four-set wins over Mexico and Colombia, before securing first place by decisively defeating the Dominican Republic. The 22-year-old outside hitter, Zhuang Yushan, was China`s leading scorer in the pool stage, accumulating an impressive 55 points.
France`s Resurgence and Key Players:
France is celebrating its fourth appearance at the World Championships, marking their first in over fifty years since their seventh-place finish at the inaugural 1952 event, which remains their best historical result. Now ranked 14th worldwide, France advanced from Pool C in the current Thai tournament as runners-up. They began with a four-set victory over Puerto Rico and then showcased their potential by taking a two-set lead against formidable Brazil before narrowly losing in a tie-breaker. In their final pool game, France secured second place by beating Greece in four sets. Captain and outside hitter Helena Cazaute stood out as the best receiver of the entire pool stage and led France`s scoring with a total of 66 points. Additionally, opposite Iman Ndiaye is a strong contender in the competition’s serving statistics, ranking second with nine aces across three matches.
Eighthfinal 2: Brazil vs Dominican Republic
The second eighthfinal at Thailand 2025 will feature a vibrant Latin American showdown between South American powerhouse Brazil and the NORCECA representatives, the Dominican Republic. This highly anticipated game is scheduled to begin at 20:30 local time (13:30 UTC).
Brazil has convincingly swept their last two encounters against the Dominican Republic in straight sets, at the Paris 2024 Olympics and during a VNL 2025 fixture held in Istanbul.
Brazil`s Pursuit of Gold:
Remarkably, Brazil has never won a World Championship title despite their consistent success. Their World Championship medal haul includes four silvers, with the most recent in 2022, and one bronze. They also secured a silver medal in this year’s VNL and are currently ranked second in the FIVB World Ranking. The South American giants progressed through Pool C of the ongoing World Championship flawlessly, achieving straight-set victories over Greece and Puerto Rico, and mounting a thrilling five-set reverse sweep against France. Their scoring efforts were jointly spearheaded by iconic star outside hitter Gabriela Guimaraes (Gabi) and her teammate Julia Bergmann, both contributing 44 points.
Dominican Republic`s Experience and Talent:
The Dominican Republic, affectionately known as the “Caribbean Queens,” achieved their best World Championship result with a fifth-place finish in 2014. Three players from that successful squad remain on the current roster, still under the seasoned guidance of Brazilian coach Marcos Kwiek. Ranked 11th globally, the Dominican Republic qualified for these eighthfinals as Pool F runners-up, having secured straight-set wins against Colombia and Mexico, though they were defeated by China. Brayelin Martinez, a 28-year-old outside hitter and a key member of the 2014 team, was their top scorer in the pool stage, tallying 57 points.
Sunday, August 31, 2025 – Eighthfinals Match Schedule:
- 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): China vs France
- 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Brazil vs Dominican Republic
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick