France, the Netherlands, and the world`s top six ranked teams are still in contention for the Women`s World Championship title in Thailand.
The eighth-final stage of the 2025 FIVB Women`s Volleyball World Championship in Thailand has concluded. Eight teams have exited the tournament, leaving the top eight contenders, which include six of the highest-ranked teams globally, to vie for the coveted World Championship title. The upcoming quarterfinal matchups are highly anticipated.
The third round of the World Championship is scheduled for two intense competition days, Wednesday, September 3rd, and Thursday, September 4th, in Bangkok, Thailand. Each day will feature two matches, commencing at 17:00 and 20:30 local time (10:00 and 13:30 UTC).
Four out of the five continental confederations are represented among the eight teams competing in Thailand 2025. Japan, the sole Asian team remaining, will kick off the quarterfinal stage against the Netherlands in Wednesday`s initial match. This encounter pits the world`s fourth-ranked team against the eighth. En route to the quarterfinals, the Netherlands secured first place in Pool A and subsequently ousted the two-time reigning world champions, Serbia, in a thrilling eighth-final match decided by a tie-breaker. Japan, meanwhile, topped Pool H before eliminating host nation Thailand in a decisive straight-sets victory.
Wednesday`s second quarterfinal, featuring Italy versus Poland, promises to be the most compelling clash of the round, as it brings together the world`s number one and number three ranked teams. Italy, the reigning Olympic and Volleyball Nations League champions, clinched Pool B and dominated their eighth-final match against Germany. Poland, conversely, emerged victorious from Pool G and then overcame Belgium in a grueling five-set battle.
The third quarterfinal, initiating Thursday`s schedule, features a showdown between powerful Brazil and surprising France. Brazil, ranked second globally, faces France, the lowest-ranked quarterfinalist at 13th, though an emerging European force. This marks their second encounter at Thailand 2025. In their decisive Pool C match, France initially stunned Brazil by winning the first two sets before Brazil mounted a strong comeback to secure the victory. In the eighth-finals, Brazil overcame the Dominican Republic in four sets. France, however, delivered the tournament`s biggest upset by eliminating Asian powerhouse China, also in four sets, causing China to fall from fourth to seventh in the world rankings.
The final spot in the 2025 World Championship semifinals will be contested on Thursday evening between the United States (world #6) and Turkiye (world #5). The Americans emerged as undefeated winners of Pool D and secured a decisive straight-sets victory over Canada in the eighth-finals. Turkiye, the reigning European champions, remain the only team in the tournament yet to drop a set, having swept all three of their Pool E matches and their eighth-final against a determined Slovenia.
2025 FIVB Women’s World Championship Quarterfinal Schedule
- Sep 03, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Netherlands v Japan
- Sep 03, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Italy v Poland
- Sep 04, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Brazil v France
- Sep 04, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): USA v Turkiye
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick