The FIVB 2025 world championship is just around the corner. This global sporting event brings together the top national Volleyball teams as they look to compete for the title of the best team in the world. Let’s quickly get into all there is to know, what to expect with the new look competition set for the autumn of the coming year and what chances the US has of winning.
FIVB 2025: Introducing the new format
Next year’s premier volleyball tournament will be quite the spectacle, as the competition will feature an expanded draft of 32 teams for both genders. The restructure changes the regular format of 24 teams from previously held competitions. It will also be the first installment of the biannual system, a shift from the quadrennial structure we are accustomed to. The men’s tournament will be held in the Philippines, and the women’s tournament will be held in Thailand.
The selection process for qualifying teams was the same for both genders and is expected to feature at least 43 different countries, including six from Africa, eight from Asia, 19 from Europe, six from the NORCECA region, and four from South America. It will consist of two automatic qualification spots for the host nation and the defending champion.
The new format also awards 15 automatic spots to the top three nations of the five continental championships. A further 15 slots are awarded to the top FIVB-ranked teams who have not already qualified, making 32 teams.
FIVB Men’s tournament
Next year’s men’s championship has two automatic qualifiers in the host nation, the Philippines, and defending champions in Italy. The top three teams from the 2023 continental championships include Egypt, Algeria, and Libya from Africa; Japan, Qatar, and Iran from Asia; Poland, Slovenia, and France from Europe; USA, Canada, and Cuba from NORCECA; Argentina, Brazil and Columba from South America.
Germany, Serbia, Netherlands, Belgium, Ukraine, Turkey, Czech, Bulgaria, Portugal, Finland, Tunisia, China, Romania, Chile, and South Korea all take the final 15 slots for the highest-ranking FIVB teams yet to qualify. The men’s tournament is scheduled to be held from 12 – 28 September 2025, with the drawing of lots taking place in Manila on September 14, 2024.
FIVB Women’s tournament
Thailand and Serbia snatched up two automatic spots as the host nation and defending champions. The top three continental spots went to Kenya, Egypt, and Cameroon for Africa; China, Japan, and Vietnam for Asia; Turkey, Netherlands, and Italy for Europe; Dominican Republic, USA, and Canada for NORCECA; Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia for South America.
The final 15 slots for top-ranked FIVB nations yet to qualify went to Poland, Germany, Belgium, Czech, Puerto Rico, France, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Cuba, Sweden, Mexico, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Greece. The scheduled date for the women’s tournament and drawing of lots are yet to be released.
How the USA team stacks up
The USA will take a shot at glory come autumn next year, having qualified for both the men’s and women’s tournaments. Both teams enjoyed success in the just concluded 2024 Paris Olympics Games with bronze and silver medals for the men and women, respectively. There is much optimism that both teams can replicate and go one step further to win the championship. And being a former world champion, they are one of the squads with the pedigree to come out on top.
There’s still a year to go before the games start, but sportsbooks are preparing their offers already. Newcomers can seize the opportunity to benefit from these exceptional promotions as they cheer on their favorite team to victory.
The FIVB 2025 will be the 21st staging of the Men’s tournaments and the 20th for the Women’s tournament. Having been first held in 1949, this international championship remains the premier competition for professional volleyball around the world.
