WCH 2025: Bulgaria keep perfect record. Slovenia and Canada to Round of 16. First win for Qatar and Japan and the others of Wednesday.

Article in collaboration Ivan (from Quezon City) and Danijel (from Pasay City) ©️Volleytimes.com

With Pool Stage almost over, on Wednesday, Poland clinch Pool B confirming their dominance, while Qatar earn first win at 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship making history by securing their first-ever success at the competition against Romania.
In a high-level clash, Poland came from behind to defeat the Netherlands 3-1 (22:25, 25:23, 25:19, 25:22) to stay unbeaten, sending them into the Round of 16 against Canada.
Captain Bartosz Kurek led the charge with 19 points, while Tomasz Fornal with 15 and Kamil Semeniuk with 14 provided strong support, with the last one who boasted an 83% success rate in attack and four aces.
The Dutch had their moments, led by Michiel Ahyi, who topped all scorers with 23 points, while Bennie Tuinstra with 12, Tom Koops and Fabian Plak, who added 11 each, kept the contest close, but Poland’s consistency proved to be decisive. Netherlands will face Türkiye in the knockouts stage.
Earlier in the day, on the same Pool in Quezon City, Qatar achieved a milestone by defeating Romania 3-1 (20:25, 25:23, 25:20, 25:22), marking their first-ever World Championship triumph.
Youssef Oughlaf powered the winners with 15 points, while veterans Belal Abunabot with 13 and Ibrahim Ibrahim with 12 delivered a strong support. The win gave Qatar third place in Pool B and redemption after a winless debut in 2022.

In Pool D in Pasay City, USA clinched the top seed with a 3-1 win (25:17, 25:22, 23:25, 27:25) over Cuba, dominating dominated at the net with a 61–45 edge in kills and 13–10 in blocks. Cooper Robinson led all scorers with 14 points including 1 block, while Gabi Garcia and Jordan Ewert added 12 points each. Cuba’s Javier Octavio Concepcion and José Israel Masso both finished with 12 points, while veteran champion Robertlandy Simon added 10.
The win keeps Team USA unbeaten at 3-0 and sets up a Round of 16 clash on September 22 against Slovenia.
Earlier in the day, Portugal staged a dramatic comeback to beat Colombia 3-2 (23:25, 21:25, 25:20, 25:21, 15:11) to secure the pool’s second qualification spot. Nuno Marques led the charge for Portugal with 19 points, while his teammate José Pinto also contributed with 16. Colombia’s Ronald Jiménez and Juan Felipe Benevides each scored 18 points, but their efforts weren’t enough to keep their team alive in their World Championship debut.
With these results, USA (3-0) and Portugal (2-1) advance from Pool D.
The Americans will meet Slovenia , while Portugal will face a tough test against Pool E winners Bulgaria in the Round of 16.

About Bulgaria, something new also from
Pool E also in Pasay City.
Slovenia secured a spot in the Round of 16 with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Germany, while Bulgaria swept Chile to remain unbeaten this group.
At the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Slovenia down Germany with set scores 25:21, 17:25, 31:29, 25:22 to claim second place in the group. Tonček Štern led the charge with 18 points, well supported by Žiga Štern and Nik Mujanović, who each added 16. Germany’s Erik Röhrs topped all scorers with 22, while Tobias Brand tallied 14.
Earlier in Quezon City, Bulgaria destroyed Chile 3-0 (25:17, 25:12, 25:12) to finish Pool E with a perfect record. Star outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov made the difference again, leaving the court with 17 points, while Martin Atanasov and Asparuh Asparuhov added 12 and 10 respectively. Chile, still searching for their first set win, exit the tournament bottom of the group.
With Bulgaria and Slovenia advancing, Pool E now sends two European sides into the Round of 16, setting the stage for a thrilling elimination battles.

In Pool G in Quezon City, Japan close their World Championship with a win, while Türkiye sweep to the top!
Japan ended their run on a positive note, sweeping modest Libya 3-0 (25:20, 25:17, 25:12) in their farewell at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Already out of contention, they were led by Kento Miyaura’s 15 points, with Yuki Ishikawa (12) and Ran Takahashi (11) adding solid support. For Libya, Ahmed Ikhbayri close the contest with 11 points.
In the other Pool G clash, Türkiye trampled over Canada 3-0 (25:21, 25:16, 27:25) to stay perfect.
Adis Lagumdzija tallied 15 points, and Efe Mandiraci also contributed with 12, while Canada’s Nicholas Hoag led his side with 8.
With the results, Türkiye (3-0) and Canada (2-1) advanced to the Round of 16, while Japan and Libya said good bye to the competition. Türkiye will face the Netherlands next, and Canada meet Poland in Pasay City.

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🌏| 2025 FIVB World Championship | Pool Stage

👉🏼Wednesday September 17, 2025

Pool D | 📍 Pasay City
• 10.00 (Local Time) | Portugal – Colombia 3-2 (23:25, 21:25, 25:20, 25:21, 15:11)

Pool B | 📍 Quezon City
• 10.30 (Local Time) | Qatar – Romania 3-1 (20:25, 25:23, 25:20, 25:22)

Pool E | 📍 Pasay City
• 13.30 (Local Time) | Bulgaria – Chile 3-0 (25:17, 25:12, 25:12)

Pool G | 📍 Quezon City
• 14.00 (Local Time) | Canada – Türkiye 0-3 (21:25, 16:25, 25:27)

Pool D | 📍 Pasay City
• 17.30 (Local Time) | USA – Cuba 3-1 (25:17, 25:22, 23:25, 27:25)

🏐| POOL D FINAL STANDINGS
1. USA 9
2. Portugal 5
3. Cuba 3
4. Colombia 1

Pool B | 📍 Quezon City
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Poland – Netherlands 3-1 (22:25, 25:23, 25:19, 25:22)

🏐| POOL B FINAL STANDINGS
1. Poland 9
2. Netherlands 6
3. Qatar 3
4. Romania 0

Pool E | 📍 Pasay City
• 21.00 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Germany 3-1 (25:21, 17:25, 31:29, 25:22)

🏐| POOL E FINAL STANDINGS
1. Bulgaria 8
2. Slovenia 7
3. Germany 3
4. Chile 0

Pool G | 📍 Quezon City
• 21.30 (Local Time) | Japan – Lybia 3-0 (25:20, 25:17, 25:12)

🏐| POOL G FINAL STANDINGS
1. Türkiye 9
2. Canada 6
3. Japan 3
4. Lybia 0

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NEXT GAMES:

Thursday September 18, 2025

Pool H | 📍 Pasay City
• 10.00 (Local Time) | Brazil – Serbia

Pool C | 📍 Quezon City
• 10.30 (Local Time) | Finland – Korea

Pool A | 📍 Pasay City
• 13.30 (Local Time) | Egypt – Tunisia

Pool F | 📍 Quezon City
• 14.00 (Local Time) | Belgium – Algeria

Pool A | 📍 Pasay City
• 17.30 (Local Time) | Philippines – Iran

Pool C | 📍 Quezon City
• 18.00 (Local Time) | France – Argentina

Pool H | 📍 Pasay City
• 21.00 (Local Time) | Czech Republic – China

Pool F | 📍 Quezon City
• 21.30 (Local Time) | Italy – Ukraine

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