Italy clinched the FIVB Men’s World Championship on Sunday, defeating Bulgaria 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10 before a crowd of 16,429 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The victory marked Italy’s fifth overall title and their first retention since 2022, completing a three-peat from 1990, 1994, and 1998.
Yuri Romano led Italy with 22 points, including 16 attacks, five aces, and one block. Mattia Bottolo added 19 points (10 attacks, two blocks, seven aces), while MVP Alessandro Michieletto contributed 11 points (nine attacks, one block, one ace). Michieletto finished the tournament with 93 points, Italy’s highest total and sixth overall. The world No. 2 Italians had advanced by stunning top-ranked Poland 25-21, 25-22, 25-23 in the semifinals and previously beat them in the 2022 final.
Bulgaria, ranked ninth, put up a fight led by Aleksander Nikolov’s 23 points (21 attacks, one block, one ace). Martin Atanasov scored 11 points (eight attacks, two aces, one block), and Asparuh Asparuhov added five (four attacks, one block). The team reached their first final in 55 years after defeating Czechia. Italy dominated statistically with 22 unforced errors to Bulgaria’s 23, 46-43 in spike kills, 10-4 in blocks, and 13-4 in aces.
Michieletto anchored the tournament’s “Dream Team,” joined by Italy’s Simone Giannelli (setter) and Yuri Romano (opposite), Bulgaria’s Aleksander Nikolov (outside hitter) and Aleks Grozdanov (middle blocker), Poland’s Jakub Kochanowski (middle blocker), and Italy’s Fabio Balaso (libero).
In the bronze medal match, world No. 1 Poland overcame Czechia 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21. Cuban-born Wilfredo Leon topped Poland with 26 points (23 attacks, three blocks), while Kewin Sasak added 11 (eight attacks, three aces). Czechia’s Lukas Vasina led with 19 points (18 attacks, one block), followed by Patrik Indra’s 11 attacks.