The world’s best are about to collide in Manila as reigning champion Italy, Olympic gold medalist France, world No. 1 Poland, and the rest of volleyball’s elite converge for the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship next month at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Elite at the highest level,” said Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who also chairs the Local Organizing Committee alongside co-chairs presidential son William Vincent “Vinny” Araneta Marcos, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.
All three powerhouse squads enter as heavy favorites, backed by their world rankings and recent titles, with just two weeks left before the global spikefest storms into the country from September 12 to 28.
Poland arrives on Philippine shores as the world’s top-ranked squad, bannered by elite spiker Wilfredo Leon and reigning Volleyball Nations League MVP Jakub Kochanowski.
The reigning Paris Olympics silver medalist had gained 400 ranking points after defeating Italy in the VNL finale earlier this month in China. It is expected to hold on to its No. 1 spot heading into the World Championship with no major tournaments left.
France, ranked No.4, will rely on its back-to-back Olympic title runs — capped by a commanding sweep of Poland in Paris — to strengthen its claim as a top title contender in what will be the biggest World Championship edition in FIVB history.
Leading the way for Les Bleus is Paris Olympics MVP Earvin Ngapeth, determined to spearhead their campaign and redeem themselves from a quarterfinal exit in the 2022 edition co-hosted by Poland and Slovenia.
Reigning world champion and No.2-ranked Italy, meanwhile, is on a mission to defend its throne while seeking payback for its recent VNL finals loss to Poland.
Anchoring the Azzurri are VNL Best Setter Simone Giannelli and Best Outside Spiker Alessandro Michieletto — the same duo that carried Italy past Poland in the 2022 finals on enemy soil.
Squeezed between the tournament’s top three giants is world No.3 Brazil, led by Alan Souza, Ricardo Lucarelli, Mathes Bispo dos Santos, and veteran setter Bruno Rezende.
The Brazilians are eager to break through after consecutive bronze finishes in the 2022 World Championship and 2025 VNL, along with a stinging quarterfinal loss to the United States at the Paris Games — setbacks they aim to erase on Manila’s grand stage.
As for the groupings, Poland headlines Pool B with the Netherlands, Qatar, and Romania; France leads Pool C with Argentina, Finland, and South Korea; Italy rules Pool F alongside Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria; while Brazil anchors Pool H with Serbia, Czech Republic, and China.
Other heavyweights in the mix include world No. 5 Japan, No. 6 USA, No. 7 Slovenia, No. 8 Germany, No. 9 Argentina, and No. 10 Cuba — all determined to leave their mark in the biggest World Championship ever staged.
Ranked No. 82, host squad Alas Pilipinas will compete in Pool A against No. 13 Iran, African champion and No. 23 Egypt, and No. 42 Tunisia. Alas will face Tunisia in the historic opening match on September 12 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, right after a dazzling opening ceremony headlined by K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR.
The 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship is backed by Rebisco, SM, PLDT, Smart, Metro Pacific Investments, Honda Philippines, Meralco, Sony, Lenovo, and LRT Line 2. It is officially sanctioned by the FIVB in partnership with Volleyball World, with Mikasa as the official ball, alongside Mizuno, Gerflor, and Senoh Corporation.
Tickets are now available through the official website: https://www.philippineswch2025.com.
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