The reigning champions, Italy, showcased their supremacy, securing a decisive victory against Algeria and earning their initial three points in the tournament.
Italy, the defending champions of the FIVB Volleyball Men`s World Championship, commenced their title defense with a strong performance in their inaugural match of the 2025 tournament held in the Philippines. This marks a significant first step since their 2022 triumph.
Facing Algeria at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the Italian squad launched their Pool F journey with a commanding 3-0 straight-sets victory (25-13, 25-22, 25-17).
In another Pool F encounter, Belgium also secured a 3-0 sweep against continental rivals Ukraine (25-16, 25-17, 25-22) in their opening match. This result places both Italy and Belgium at the top of the standings, each with three points. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Round of 16.
Italy`s offense was spearheaded by their formidable outside hitters. Alessandro Michieletto delivered a match-best 15 points, comprising nine kills, four aces, and two blocks, while Mattia Bottolo contributed 13 points, with eleven kills and two aces. Opposite hitter Yuri Romanò also reached double figures, adding 11 points from ten kills and one ace.
“Every team at the World Championship is exceptionally good. We`ve witnessed some fantastic matches already, and the overall standard is incredibly high. Our pool is challenging, and we anticipate a difficult journey to the final, but we possess a strong team and are committed to giving our utmost. Maintaining concentration is crucial, as just a few pivotal plays can alter the outcome of any match here.”
— Alessandro Michieletto
Returning to the World Championship stage after a hiatus since 1998, Algeria saw outside hitter Sidi Dour lead their effort against the world champions, accumulating 11 points (ten kills, one block). Opposite Boudjemaa Ikken also reached double digits with ten points, consisting of eight kills and two blocks.
“It`s been a long time since we`ve competed at this level. We aimed to perform our best today, and I commend my teammates for their hard work. I`m confident we can improve upon this performance. Perhaps we were a bit hesitant to fully showcase our capabilities, but we are determined to demonstrate more in our upcoming fixture.”
— Soufiane Hosni, Team Captain
Italy`s decisive win was statistically evident; the European squad surpassed Algeria in kills (39-32), blocks (8-3), and aces (7-0). Additionally, Italy committed fewer errors, with 17 compared to Algeria`s 21.
Upcoming Matches in Pool F
The four Pool F teams will return to the court on Tuesday. Ukraine is scheduled to face Algeria at 14:00 local time (6:00 GMT), followed by Italy confronting Belgium at 21:30 local time (13:30 GMT) in the second-round matches.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick