Italy Reigns Supreme at the 2025 Volleyball World Championship
Italy continues its volleyball dominance after winning the 2025 Volleyball World Championship in the Philippines. The team defended its title with a commanding victory over Bulgaria, earning its fifth world crown.
The tournament ran from September 12 to 28 and featured 32 teams for the first time. Matches were held across Philippine venues, including the Mall of Asia Arena, where the final took place.
The expanded format brought intense competition. Teams were split into eight groups. Early rounds shocked fans as strong contenders like Brazil, Japan, and France failed to advance. Newcomers such as Portugal and Finland impressed with fearless play.
Cuba and Japan, seen as dark horses, stumbled in the group stage. France, despite Olympic glory, failed to recover from two early losses. Serbia’s fall to Iran in the Round of 16 stunned spectators, while the United States suffered a dramatic collapse against Bulgaria after taking the first two sets.
Poland entered the semifinals as favorites but fell in straight sets to Italy. Bulgaria’s victory over the Czech Republic sent them to the final, setting up a European showdown.
The final match lived up to the hype. Italy claimed the first two sets 25:21 and 25:17. Bulgaria fought back in the third, but Italy crushed their comeback hopes with a dominant 25:10 finish in the fourth. Middle blocker Simone Anzani delivered the winning spike before 20,000 fans. Alessandro Micheletto earned MVP honors for his crucial performance.
With this win, Italy proved once again why they are world leaders in volleyball. Their fifth title strengthens their legacy and sets the standard for the next generation of athletes.
