Women’s World Championship 2025: Pool G Preview

Germany, Kenya, Poland, and Vietnam are set to compete in Pool G, battling for advancement to the elimination rounds of the upcoming championship.

Poland ready for a long-awaited World Championship podium

The 2025 FIVB Women`s Volleyball World Championship, the premier event on the international calendar, is poised to commence a new chapter in Thailand this week with its 20th edition.

Scheduled from August 22 to September 7 across four Thai cities – Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, and Chiang Mai – this championship marks the debut of a new biennial format, making the world title contested every two years.

This edition also features an expanded field of 32 national teams, fostering greater participation and development opportunities. These teams are divided into eight pools of four, with each team playing its three opponents. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the elimination rounds, comprising the eighthfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal matches.

The pool play phase, featuring 48 matches, will run from August 22 to 27 across the four host cities. Subsequently, the tournament shifts entirely to Bangkok for the elimination rounds: eighthfinals from August 29 to September 1, quarterfinals on September 3-4, semifinals on September 6, and the medal matches on September 7.

As this historic World Championship approaches, we offer a detailed preview of each of the eight pools, providing essential information to follow the action.

Pool G Overview

Host City: Phuket

Match Schedule

• August 23, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Germany v Kenya
• August 23, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Poland v Vietnam
• August 25, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Germany v Vietnam
• August 25, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Poland v Kenya
• August 27, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Kenya v Vietnam
• August 27, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Poland v Germany

Germany

Germany secured its spot via the FIVB World Ranking, where it currently holds 11th place, making it the second-highest ranked team in Pool G. This marks Germany`s 18th appearance at the Women`s World Championship, with East Germany achieving their best finishes of fourth place in 1974 and 1986. Earlier this year, they placed seventh in the Volleyball Nations League. Under Italian head coach Giulio Bregoli, the team will be led by 25-year-old middle blocker Camilla Weitzel. Key experienced players include libero Anna Pogany, outside hitters Lina Alsmeier, Lena Stigrot, and Hanna Orthman, and middle blocker Marie Scholzel. Pia Kastner (setter) and Annie Cesar (libero) are notable absences due to injury.

Kenya

Kenya qualified as the 2023 African champions. Currently ranked 23rd globally, they haven`t played official ranking matches since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This will be Kenya`s seventh World Championship appearance, with their best historical results being 13th place finishes in 1994 and 1998. In Phuket, head coach Geoffrey Omondi Onyango’s team will be captained by 28-year-old outside hitter Meldinah Nemali Sande. The squad includes six Olympians from last year: setter Emmaculate Nekesa Misoki, opposite Pamella Adhiambo, outside hitters Juliana Namutira and Veronica Adhiambo, and middle blockers Belinda Barasa and Lorine Chebet.

Poland

Poland enters as the highest-ranked team from the World Ranking to qualify and the top-ranked team in Pool G, currently holding third place globally. This will be Poland’s 12th World Championship, with their best historical performance being a silver medal at the inaugural 1952 event, alongside bronze medals in 1956 and 1962. They have also secured bronze in the last three Volleyball Nations League editions and finished sixth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Italian head coach Stefano Lavarini has selected 12 of the 14 players from last month’s VNL Finals squad for Thailand 2025. Key players include middle blocker and captain Agnieszka Korneluk, and hitters Magdalena Stysiak, Martyna Lukasik, and Malwina Smarzek.

Vietnam

Vietnam is making its historic debut at the Women`s World Championship, having qualified by placing fourth at the 2023 AVC Asian Championship. They are ranked 22nd globally, just ahead of Kenya. Earlier this year, Vietnam won the AVC Nations Cup for the third time in a row and recently secured a historic gold at a women’s Southeast Asian Volleyball League (SEA V League) tournament. While their MVP, opposite Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, will not be in Phuket, the team boasts other standout players such as outside hitters Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, middle blocker Tran Thi Bich Thuy, and libero Nguyen Khanh Dang.