For more than two electrifying weeks, the world’s best volleyball nations converged in the Philippines for the 21st Volleyball World Championship — a historic edition that expanded to 32 teams for the first time. From September 12 to 28, fans packed arenas from Manila to Cebu, witnessing fierce rallies, stunning upsets, and ultimately, another Italian masterpiece.
The 2025 tournament marked a new chapter for the sport. No longer held every four years, the World Championship now takes place biennially, allowing more teams — and more nations — a shot at glory. Divided into eight groups, the competition saw traditional powerhouses and rising squads battle for Round of 16 berths.
Group A featured hosts Philippines alongside Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia, while Group B placed Poland with the Netherlands, Qatar, and Romania. France and Argentina shared Group C, the USA and Cuba clashed in Group D, and reigning champions Italy led Group F with Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria.
The group stage was anything but predictable. Cuba and Japan — both tournament darlings — bowed out early, while Olympic champions France suffered two stunning defeats. Brazil, once untouchable, crashed out after losing to Serbia. Meanwhile, lesser-fancied teams like Portugal, Canada, and Finland earned praise for their spirited play, proving that world volleyball’s balance of power is shifting.
The knockout rounds delivered high drama. Serbia’s campaign ended in heartbreak after a five-set thriller against Iran, and the United States suffered a shocking quarterfinal collapse to Bulgaria after leading 2–0.
Then came the heavyweight clash: Poland versus Italy in the semifinals. The Poles — silver medalists in both the 2022 Worlds and the Paris Olympics — entered as slight favorites, having dropped only two sets all tournament. But Italy had other plans. With poise and precision, the Azzurri swept Poland 25–21, 25–22, 25–23, booking their ticket to another final.
On September 28, a sold-out Mall of Asia Arena bore witness to Italy’s coronation. Facing a fearless Bulgarian side, Italy asserted dominance early, capturing the first two sets with ease (25–21, 25–17). Bulgaria struck back with a stunning third-set win (25–17), but the Italians unleashed a masterclass in the fourth, demolishing their rivals 25–10.
Simone Anzani delivered the championship point with a thunderous spike, sending 20,000 fans into a frenzy. Alessandro Micheletto — whose steady brilliance anchored Italy throughout — was rightfully named tournament MVP.
With this triumph, Italy cemented its place among volleyball’s greatest dynasties — now a five-time world champion and the undisputed powerhouse of the modern game. Their victory in Manila was not just a repeat performance but a reaffirmation of excellence, teamwork, and resilience.
As 1xBet, the tournament’s official partner, summed it up: Italy didn’t just win another title — they extended their empire across a new era of world volleyball.