Iran delivered a stunning comeback to capture the 2025 FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship, beating Italy 3-1 grand final in Jiangmen, China.
Italy looked unstoppable in the first set, cruising to a 25-15 win. But Iran regrouped quickly, shifting momentum with powerful serves and sharp attacks to take the next three sets 25-18, 25-22, and 25-14. Seyed Matin Hosseini topped the scoresheet with 17 points, backed by Pouya Ariakhah’s 15. For Italy, Tommaso Barotto and Pardo Mati each finished with 14 points.
This marks Iran’s ninth straight win of the tournament, capping a flawless campaign that saw them defeat Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Canada, Poland, Argentina, China, and the United States along the way.
For Italy, the silver medal adds to an impressive run in recent years—four podium finishes in the last four editions, including gold in 2021.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. secured bronze with a clean 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic.
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