The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship delivered another huge upset as Finland stunned reigning Olympic champions France in a tense five-set battle.
The underdogs showed resilience and sharp defense to edge past the France 3-2 (25-19, 17-25, 29-27, 21-25, 15-9). With this result, Finland moved up to third place in Pool C with three points and kept their chances alive for the knockout stage. A straight-sets victory against Korea in their final group match would secure their passage to the round of 16.
France, sitting second in the pool with four points, now face a must-win clash against Argentina on Thursday.
Top Scorers
Top scorers of Finland
- Joonas Mikael Jokela – 20 points (including 3 aces)
- Luka Marttila – 15 points
- Petteri Tyynismaa – 13 points with 5 blocks
For France:
- Jean Patry – Match-high 23 points (4 aces, 2 blocks)
- Yacine Louati – 17 points
- Barthelemy Chinenyeze – 12 points, 3 blocks
The battle for Pool C qualification is heating up. Finland faces Korea, while France must overcome Argentina on Thursday, September 18, to keep their championship hopes alive.
Standings provided by Sofascore
- POL M: Barkom Każany Lwów Outlast Politechnika Częstochowa
- TUR M: Halkbank Defeats Galatasaray 3-0
- BRA M: Sesi Bauru Stuns Sada Cruzeiro
- Martina Šamadan Leads Panathinaikos to Strong Start in Greek League
- Bulgarian Volleyball Federation Postpones Women’s Head Coach Appointment
