Nine of the sixteen European teams participating in the 2025 FIVB Women`s Volleyball World Championship have successfully advanced from the group stage to the knockout phase. Seven teams, however, were eliminated after failing to secure one of the top two positions in their respective pools.
The group stage was marked by dramatic twists and turns. Nonetheless, the teams demonstrating the most dominant performances, notably by conceding the fewest sets, were the reigning European champions, Turkey, and Italy. Both nations achieved three victories, with Turkey winning all matches 3:0 and Italy losing only one set throughout their pool play.
Turkey convincingly defeated Spain (25:18; 25:20; 25:23), Bulgaria (25:23; 25:19; 25:13), and Canada (25:21; 27:25; 25:13) in straight sets. Coach Daniele Santarelli expertly managed his team`s rotations, allowing top scorer Melissa Vargas to rank 13th overall with 50 points, indicating a balanced team effort.
Italy, fresh off a flawless performance in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Women, also secured three wins: a 3:0 victory over Slovakia (25:20; 25:14; 25:17), a 3:0 sweep against Cuba (25:9; 25:8; 25:16), and a 3:1 triumph over Belgium (25:16; 25:16; 21:25 and 25:18).
In these two pools, Spain, Bulgaria, and Slovakia were eliminated, finishing in the lower ranks. Belgium, however, advanced to the next stage after securing straight-set wins against Cuba and Slovakia.
Defending world champions Serbia began their Pool H campaign strongly, achieving straight-set victories against Ukraine (25:21; 25:19; 25:17) and Cameroon (25:16; 25:17; 25:12). However, a challenging loss to Japan complicated their path to defending their title.
Serbia lost the first two sets against Japan (23:25 and 28:30) but showed resilience by winning the third set 25:23, before ultimately conceding the final set 18:25. Serbia`s difficulties were compounded by the absence of Tijana Bošković, the MVP of the last two World Championships, who sustained an ankle injury against Cameroon and was unable to play.
Serbia is now set to face the Netherlands in the Round of 16. The Dutch side secured first place in Pool A after a hard-fought 3:2 victory over Sweden (25:27; 25:11; 25:21; 21:25; 15:9), a match where Isabelle Haak, MVP of the last CEV Champions League Women season, scored an impressive 31 points.
The Netherlands continued their strong run with a 3:0 win against Egypt and a 3:2 victory over hosts Thailand, clinching the decider 16:14. Meanwhile, Sweden was defeated 0:3 by Thailand (18:25; 20:25; 22:25) and exited the tournament, finishing third in their pool.
The most intense competition for a qualification spot occurred in Pool D, where the USA dominated by securing three wins against Slovenia, Czechia, and Argentina. The other three teams each finished with one win and two losses, with the qualifier determined by points.
Slovenia accumulated four points, Argentina three, and Czechia two. Notably, Slovenia advanced despite a 3:2 loss to Czechia after initially winning the first two sets. A crucial 3:0 victory over Argentina proved decisive for Slovenia in their debut appearance at the competition. They are slated to play Turkey in the Round of 16.
Poland and Germany faced no significant challenges against Kenya and Vietnam in Pool G. Poland ultimately topped the group after a 3:2 victory over Germany (21:25; 25:15; 19:25; 28:26 and 19:17 in the deciding set). France also progressed from Pool C, where Brazil secured the top spot with a 3:2 win against the European team.
Sweden`s Isabelle Haak was the top scorer of the pool phase, accumulating 95 points.
The Round of 16, scheduled to take place in Bangkok between August 29 and September 1, guarantees four European quarter-finalists with the following matchups: Netherlands vs. Serbia, Turkey vs. Slovenia, Italy vs. Germany, and Poland vs. Belgium.
