In Pool H of the 2025 Women`s World Championship, Cameroon, Japan, Serbia, and Ukraine will compete fiercely in Bangkok for two coveted spots in the eighthfinals.
Japan against Serbia in VNL 2025 action in Ottawa
This week, Thailand hosts the 20th edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women`s World Championship, marking a new era for the sport`s premier international event.
From August 22 to September 7, the tournament will unfold across four Thai cities—Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. This edition introduces a new biennial format for the world title.
For the first time, 32 national teams will participate, expanding global involvement and fostering further development in the sport.
These 32 teams are divided into eight pools of four. Each team will play its three pool opponents, with the top two from each pool progressing to the knockout stages: the eighthfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal matches.
The 48 pool play matches will take place from August 22-27 across the four host cities. The competition then shifts exclusively to Bangkok for the elimination rounds: eighthfinals (August 29-September 1), quarterfinals (September 3-4), semifinals (September 6), and the medal matches (September 7).
As this historic World Championship approaches, we provide a detailed preview of each of the eight pools, ensuring you have all the necessary information to follow the action.
Pool H
Host City: Bangkok
Match Schedule
August 23, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Japan v Cameroon
August 23, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Serbia v Ukraine
August 25, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Japan v Ukraine
August 25, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Serbia v Cameroon
August 27, 17:00 local (10:00 UTC): Japan v Serbia
August 27, 20:30 local (13:30 UTC): Ukraine v Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon secured their spot in Thailand 2025 by winning bronze at the 2023 CAVB Women`s African Nations Volleyball Championship. This marks their fifth appearance at the World Championship, though they have yet to advance past the initial pool stage, with only one historical win in the tournament. Ranked 44th globally, Cameroon hasn`t played official FIVB World Ranking matches since their continental success two years prior. Estelle Adiana, a 28-year-old opposite and 2023 African Nations Championship Dream Team member, is anticipated to be a pivotal player for the squad in Thailand.
Japan
Japan qualified for Thailand 2025 as the bronze medalists of the 2023 AVC Asian Women`s Volleyball Championship. Following a fourth-place finish in this year`s Volleyball Nations League, they currently hold the fifth spot in the World Ranking. Japan boasts a rich history in the Women`s World Championships, with three titles (1962, 1967, 1974), three silver medals (1960, 1970, 1978), and a bronze (2010) across 17 past appearances. Under Turkish head coach Ferhat Akbas, Japan will depend on the strong performances of key international players such as Nanami Seki, Yukiko Wada, Mayu Ishikawa, Yoshino Sato, Haruyo Shimamura, Airi Miyabe, and Manami Kojima.
Serbia
Serbia, the reigning world champions from 2018 and 2022, will defend their title at Thailand 2025, marking their seventh World Championship appearance (including their predecessors Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro). Despite a current team rejuvenation, which led to a 15th-place finish in this year`s VNL and a drop to ninth in the World Ranking, Serbia will still be led in Bangkok by their world-class captain, Tijana Boskovic. Boskovic was named MVP in both their 2018 and 2022 championship victories. The squad includes other seasoned champions like Maja Aleksic, Teodora Pusic, Bojana Milenkovic, Katarina Dangubic, Sladana Mirkovic, Mina Popovic, and Aleksandra Jegdic, alongside promising newcomers such as rising star middle blocker Hena Kurtagic.
Ukraine
Ukraine makes their return to the World Championship for the first time since 1994, when they placed ninth. Their qualification for Thailand 2025 comes via their current 16th position in the World Ranking, a standing that also secures their historic VNL debut in 2026. This season, Ukraine notably won the CEV Volleyball European Golden League. Polish head coach Jakub Gluszak`s team will feature 23-year-old setter Daria Sharhorodska, who was named MVP of the 2025 European Golden League.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick