Four European teams—Poland, Italy, Czechia, and Bulgaria—have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in Pasay City, Philippines. This impressive lineup guarantees that the coveted world title will remain in Europe for the fourth consecutive edition. The highly anticipated semi-final matches are scheduled for Saturday, September 26.
The Anticipated Clash: Poland vs. Italy
The second semi-final promises a thrilling encounter between two volleyball giants: defending champions Italy and the formidable Polish squad. This matchup is a significant rematch, echoing both the CEV EuroVolley 2023 Men final, where Poland claimed a decisive 3:0 victory, and the previous FIVB World Championship final, in which Italy triumphed over Poland with a 3:1 win. Italy is now aiming for its second consecutive title, and fifth overall, a feat that would parallel Poland`s impressive back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2018.
Poland has showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament, dropping only two sets—one in the preliminary round and another against Canada in the Round of 16—before delivering a commanding straight-sets sweep against Türkiye. Italy, despite suffering a 2:3 loss to Belgium in the preliminary stage, has since demonstrated formidable dominance in the knockout phase, securing straight-sets wins against Argentina and Belgium. Roberto Russo, a key player for Italy, articulated the team`s aspirations: “Our ambitions are to go far in this tournament and I hope that we will play against Poland in the semifinal like we did today, against Belgium.”
Beyond the World Championship, these two powerhouses also met twice in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. While Italy secured a narrow 3:2 win in the league round, Poland ultimately prevailed with a dominant 3:0 victory in the final match. Wilfredo Leon, the MVP of CEV EuroVolley 2023 Men, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming game: “To play against Italy will always be one of the best games. I hope we will make an amazing game here for all the fans around the world.”
The Unexpected Battle: Czechia vs. Bulgaria
The other semi-final features an unexpected yet captivating showdown between Czechia and Bulgaria. Both nations are marking historic achievements in this tournament. Bulgaria, whose last major medal was a bronze in 2006, now has a chance to reach its second-ever World Championship final, having previously won silver as hosts in 1970. They have maintained an unblemished record with five consecutive wins, displaying incredible resilience, particularly in their quarter-final against the USA, where they orchestrated a remarkable comeback from two sets down to clinch a dramatic 15:13 victory in the decider.
Moni Nikolov of Bulgaria shared insights into his team`s unwavering spirit: “The belief was always there and always will be there, no matter how much we are down. We are like a family and we fight like brothers… When the last ball fell, I just wanted to go on my knees and just enjoy it, because the feeling was something that I can never even describe. I hope we can experience it again soon, in a couple of days. This is why we train, for this type of feeling.” Bulgaria`s Aleks Nikolov currently leads the competition as the top scorer, having accumulated 119 points, including a crucial 29 points against the USA.
Czechia, participating in the World Championship for the first time since 2010, is also vying for its maiden finals berth. After securing second place in their preliminary pool, they delivered stellar performances in the knockout rounds, defeating Tunisia (3:0) and the Islamic Republic of Iran (3:1) to reach the semi-finals—a remarkable accomplishment for a team that finished 12th at the last CEV EuroVolley. Historically, Bulgaria has won three of their last four encounters, though their most recent competitive match was at CEV EuroVolley 2021.
