Thursday marks the dramatic conclusion of the pool play stage at the 2025 FIVB Men`s Volleyball World Championship in the Philippines, with a `Decision Day` atmosphere. Seven of the eight coveted spots for the Round of 16 across Pools A, C, F, and H are still fiercely contested.
Eight critical matches are slated for Pasay City and Quezon City. Belgium stands as the sole team already assured a place in the elimination rounds. Meanwhile, 13 nations – Tunisia, Iran, the Philippines, Egypt, Argentina, France, Finland, Italy, Ukraine, Brazil, Serbia, Czechia, and China – remain in contention, each hoping to secure their passage to the Round of 16.
Pool Scenarios: Who Advances?
Pool A
Pool A presents a completely open and unpredictable scenario, with each of the first two rounds producing a different winner. As a result, hosts the Philippines, Egypt, Iran, and Tunisia all enter the final day of pool play at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City with identical records of three points, one win, and one loss.
Paradoxically, this makes qualification straightforward: the winners of today`s two matches – Egypt vs. Tunisia at 13:30 local time (5:30 GMT) and the Philippines vs. Iran at 17:30 (9:30 GMT) – will claim the two coveted spots in the next round.
Pool C
Pool C sees three national teams vying for two qualification berths on the final day. Argentina leads the group undefeated with five points, followed by two-time Olympic champions France, who have four points from a win and a loss. Finland also holds a 1-1 record but with three points. Korea, having secured only one set victory in two matches, is already eliminated with no points.
At 18:00 (10:00 GMT) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Argentina and France will clash, with either team securing advancement with a victory. Finland plays Korea earlier, at 10:30 (2:30 GMT); a 3-0 win guarantees Finland`s progression regardless of other results. They can also advance with other outcomes, including a 3-2 loss, but their fate would then hinge on the Argentina-France match.
`The goal is to beat Argentina to qualify and take first place,` French middle blocker Barthélémy Chinenyeze stated. `We’ll analyze what we did against Finland so we can do better against Argentina.`
Pool E
In Pool E, Belgium has already secured their place, topping the standings with five points after two impressive victories, including a crucial win against defending champions Italy. Italy, with four points (one win, one loss), and Ukraine, with three points (also one win, one loss), will now compete for the final qualification spot. Algeria, yet to win a set and at the bottom of the table, will conclude their tournament on Thursday.
The second Round of 16 spot will be determined in a direct confrontation between Italy and Ukraine, scheduled for 21:30 (13:30 GMT) in Quezon City. Earlier, at 14:00 (6:00 GMT), Belgium aims to secure first place in the pool by defeating Algeria.
`This will be like a Round of 32 match for us,` Italian middle blocker Simone Anzani said. `Ukraine have quality players and have been playing together for some years.`
Pool H
Pool H sees all four teams with a theoretical chance of qualifying on Thursday: Brazil (six points, two wins), Serbia (three points, one win, one loss), Czechia (three points, one win, one loss), and China (zero points, two losses). The day in Pasay City kicks off with Brazil vs. Serbia at 10:00 (2:00 GMT), followed 11 hours later by Czechia vs. China.
Brazil, currently leading the standings, is in a commanding position; they need to win just one set against Serbia to guarantee their advancement. Serbia and Czechia share identical records, and the team performing better on Thursday is likely to join Brazil in the Round of 16. For both European teams to qualify simultaneously, both must secure 3-0 victories. China`s path to qualification is narrow, requiring a 3-0 win over Czechia coupled with a 3-0 victory for Brazil against Serbia.
2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship: Match Schedule
Schedule for Thursday, September 18, 2025:
- 10:00 local time (2:00 GMT) – Pool H – Brazil vs. Serbia
- 10:30 local time (2:30 GMT) – Pool C – Finland vs. Korea
- 13:30 local time (5:30 GMT) – Pool A – Egypt vs. Tunisia
- 14:00 local time (6:00 GMT) – Pool F – Belgium vs. Algeria
- 17:30 local time (9:30 GMT) – Pool A – The Philippines vs. Iran
- 18:00 local time (10:00 GMT) – Pool C – France vs. Argentina
- 21:00 local time (13:00 GMT) – Pool H – Czechia vs. China
- 21:30 local time (13:30 GMT) – Pool F – Italy vs. Ukraine
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick