The final of the men`s 2025 CEV Volleyball European Golden League featured two teams that have benefited from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment support. Finland emerged victorious, securing the championship title, while Czechia finished as the silver medalists. Israel claimed the bronze medals. In the men’s 2025 CEV Volleyball European Silver League, Sweden triumphed as champions, with Hungary taking the runner-up spot.
Both finalist nations have received significant investment through FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. The Finnish Volleyball Association has been allocated a total of USD 168,000 for coach support across its national teams, alongside USD 18,000 for knowledge transfer programs aimed at developing national team coaches. Finland’s men’s national team is led by head coach Olli Kunnari. Similarly, the Czech Volleyball Federation has also received USD 168,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their national teams, with Jiri Novak serving as the head coach for the men`s squad.
Finland qualified for the European Golden League finals tournament in Brno as the third seed from the league round, achieving a 5-1 win-loss record and 15 points, placing them behind Israel (6-0, 17 points) and Greece (5-1, 16 points). Despite finishing the league round in sixth place with a 3-3 record and 8 points, Czechia secured their spot as the host nation.
In the semifinals held in Brno, Finland delivered a dominant 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-23, 25-20) over Greece. In the other semifinal, Czechia pleased the home crowd with a convincing 3-0 sweep (25-14, 26-24, 25-23) against Israel.
The gold medal match on Sunday saw Finland stage a comeback, winning 3-1 (24-26, 26-24, 25-15, 25-23) to claim the competition title for the first time in their history. Finland`s 26-year-old opposite player, Joonas Jokela, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Two-time winners Czechia had to settle for the silver medal. Israel secured their first-ever European Golden League medal by defeating Greece 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21) in the third-place match.
The final standings for the Golden League, from fifth to twelfth place, were: Romania, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Croatia, Latvia, and Montenegro.
In the men`s 2025 CEV Volleyball European Silver League, Sweden finished first in the initial round with a perfect 6-0 record and 18 points, while Hungary was second with 5-1 and 15 points. These two teams advanced to the final home-and-away series.
In the first leg played in Kecskemet, Hungary, Sweden secured a 3-1 victory (21-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-15). The return match took place on Sunday in Umea, Sweden. Hungary won this match 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 29-27, 16-25, 17-15), but Sweden had already won enough sets to claim the overall title and celebrate their first-ever Silver League gold medal. Sweden’s 29-year-old outside hitter Viktor Lindberg was named MVP.
The teams finishing from third to eighth place in the final European Silver League standings were: Luxembourg, Austria, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Georgia.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood