2025 Volleyball World Championship Picks & Predictions

2025 Men's Volleyball World Championship Rundown

This year, the Men's Volleyball World Championship is heading to Asia, taking place in the Philippines from September 12 to 28, 2025. The 32 best nations in the world will compete for gold in Manila, aiming to succeed Italy, the 2022 champions.

On this page, you will find all the information about these World Championships, the teams, and our favorites for this 21st edition.

Will Team USA win a medal on the international stage? Will Italy retain its title, or will Poland take back what is theirs? Find all our answers about the 2025 Volleyball World Championships.

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2025 Volleyball World Cup Winner Prediction: who will be crowned world champion?

The 2025 Volleyball World Championships are shaping up to be wide open, with three nations standing out from the rest in the race for the world title in the Philippines.

Reigning world champions Italy will be in contention for another world title. Recent VNL finalists, the Squadra Azzurra, will be led by stars Simone Gianelli and Alessandro Michieletto, and there is no doubt that, as always, the Italian team will be ready to compete.

Double winners in 2014 and 2018, as well as European champion in 2023 and Olympic silver medalist in 2024, Poland will be the favorite at the 2025 World Volleyball Championships. Winners of the 2025 VNL in early August, the Polish team made a strong impression in the wake of Wilfredo Leon. And with a squad built for gold, Poland will be a force to be reckoned with in this competition.

Finally, how could we not mention Team USA among the favorites for the 2025 World Championships? The three-time Olympic champions are on their way to a final dance with the generation of Matt Anderson, Aaron Russell, Jeffrey Jendryk, and TJ DeFalco, who are looking for a podium finish at the World Championships, after coming in 6th in 2022. The stars and stripes will be at full strength for the 2025 World Championships and, with a mission to accomplish, our American team could achieve something great!

When it comes to making a choice, our prediction is that Poland will take gold at the 2025 World Championships. Looking for revenge after their defeat in last year's final in Paris, Wilfredo Leon's teammates are armed to take the title with an impressive roster. Our prediction for the winner of the 2025 World Volleyball Championships: victory for Poland!

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2025 Volleyball World Championships Group Stage Predictions

If we make Poland the favorite for the 2025 edition, you will also be able to bet on the winners of each group before the final phase of the competition.

Check out our experts' predictions for the top two teams in each group that will advance to the round of 16 of the 2025 Volleyball World Cup.

Group A: Iran - Tunisia - Egypt - Philippines

No offense to the four Group A nations, but this is probably the weakest group in the first round of the 2025 World Volleyball Championships. Nevertheless, with more experience at the highest level, Iran is the clear favorite for first place, with Amin's teammates expected to advance without any problems. Behind them, the second ticket out of the group should be contested between Tunisia and Egypt, with a slight advantage for the Egyptians, the reigning African champions.

Our prediction for the winner of Group A: Iran to win this group.

Group B: Romania - Poland - Netherlands - Qatar

Winners of the VNL in August, Poland will be able to start these World Championships gently with a group that is well within their reach. With first place promised to the Olympic silver medalists, the suspense will be behind them as the second ticket is likely to be hotly contested, with the Netherlands having the advantage over Romania, being better equipped to reach the round of 16 and more accustomed to high-level matches.

Our prediction for the winner of Group B: Poland takes the group.

Group C | France - Finland - Argentina - South Korea

The French team will need to be very cautious in this first round. On paper, Les Bleus are the favorites and should be able to finish in first place, provided they start strong. Earvin NGapeth's teammates will likely rise to the occasion, determined to leave the World Championship with some hardware. Sebastian Sole's Argentina should accompany France to the next round, with the South Americans superior to Finland and South Korea in all areas.

Our prediction for the winner of Group C: France to win.

Group D: Portugal - USA - Cuba - Colombia

First place in Group D is likely to be hotly contested between the United States and Cuba. Team USA made the decision to skip the VNL, focusing instead on this tournament, and Christenson, Anderson, and company make their return in the 2025 World Volleyball Championships. With a full squad, the bronze medalists from the last Olympics should be able to get the better of the Cubans, who are still fragile at times.

Our prediction for the winner of Group D: USA to win this group.

Group E: Bulgaria - Germany - Slovenia - Chile

Group E is arguably the group of death, with three strong teams vying for two spots. As semi-finalists in the last VNL, Slovenia will have a target on their backs. Toncek Stern's Slovenian team is the group favorite on paper. Behind them, Germany (quarterfinalists at the 2024 Olympics) should be able to get through, even if Bulgaria, led by brothers Nikolov, Simeon and Aleksandar, made a strong impression in the last Volleyball Nations League. But with their experience, the Germans could accompany Slovenia to the next round.

Our prediction for the winner of Group E: Slovenia wins the group.

Group F: Belgium - Italy - Ukraine - Algeria

As reigning world champions, Italy should have no particular problems in Group F. Far superior to their opponents, the Squadra Azzurra should finish in first place. Behind the Italians, an interesting duel is expected between Belgium, which will be promoted to the VNL next year, and Ukraine, which is coming off a strong VNL campaign. But in terms of character, it is the Ukrainians who should advance to the round of 16.

Our prediction for the winner of Group F: Italy will win this group.

Group G: Turkey - Japan - Canada - Libya

A quarterfinalist at the last Olympic Games, Japan will be one of the opponents everyone will want to avoid during the 2025 Volleyball World Championships. The Japanese team, now coached by Laurent Tillie (gold medalist with the French national team in Tokyo), is at the top of Group G, with Yuki Ishikawa's teammates expected to take first place. However, there should be a closely fought battle for second place between Canada and Turkey, with the Canadians having the edge after their impressive performances at the Olympics and in the VNL.

Our prediction for the winner of Group G: Japan take the group.

Group H: Serbia - Czech Republic - Brazil - China  

Group H is one of the most evenly matched groups in the first round of the 2025 Volleyball World Championships. On paper, Brazil should have no trouble winning this group, barring any surprises. For second place, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and China each have their strengths. Despite a disastrous VNL campaign, we believe Serbia is capable of qualifying for the round of 16, with individual players (Ivovic, Luburic) who should enable the Balkan country to join Brazil in the next round.

Our prediction for the winner of Group H: Brazil will win this group.

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Team USA Volleyball: The Americans' schedule for the 2025 Volleyball World Championships

Bronze medalists at the Paris Olympics and Quarterfinalists at the Tokyo Olympics, this US team is among the strongest at the tournament. It goes without saying that this team is heading to Thailand with high ambitions, but they've got the squad to back it up. As part of Group D, Team USA's group stage matches will take place in Manila. Group D isn't the scariest at the tournament, but there are some competitive matchups to be had.

Here is the schedule for Team USA's group stage matches:

• Match 1: USA vs. Colombia (Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.)
• Match 2: USA vs. Portugal (Monday, September 15, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.)
• Match 3: USA vs. Cuba (Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.)

*All times are listed in local time, GMT+8.

Led by veteran players Matt Anderson and Micah Christenson, Team USA should comfortably make it through the group stage. Their final match takes place against rivals Cuba on Wednesday, September 17th, and could end up deciding the group. Taking first in the group stage ensures a more favorable matchup in the knock-out round, so winning every match will be key. 

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Beginner bettors: How does the Volleyball World Championship work?

The Volleyball World Championships are held every four years and will take place this year in the Philippines from September 12 to 28, 2025. This year, 32 nations will be invited to participate, divided into eight groups for the first round.

This first phase will be played from September 12 to 18, 2025, with eight groups of four nations. At the end of the three matches, the top two teams will qualify for the round of 16. A 3-0 or 3-1 victory earns three points, a tie-break victory (3-2) earns two points, a tie-break defeat (2-3) earns one point, and a 1-3 or 0-3 defeat earns no points.

The knockout stage will begin on Saturday, September 20, with the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final on September 28 in Manila, not to mention the bronze medal match.

The knockout stage bracket is already known, with the groups facing off as follows:

• Winner of Group A - Runner-up in Group H
• Winner of Group H - Runner-up in Group A
• Winner of Group D - Runner-up in Group E
• Winner of Group E - Runner-up in Group D
• Winner of Group B - Runner-up in Group G
• Winner of Group G - Runner-up in Group B
• Winner of Group C - Runner-up in Group F
• Winner of Group F - Runner-up in Group C

64 matches are scheduled for the 2025 Volleyball World Championships to determine the successor to Italy, winners in 2022!

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How to make accurate predictions for the 2025 Volleyball World Championships?

Before you start making your predictions for the 2025 Volleyball World Championships or any other volleyball predictions, take the time to follow these tips to ensure you are in the best possible position to place your sports bets on the competition.

• Bet on the team that is currently in good form.
• Know what's at stake in the match.
• Look at the teams' rankings and their progress in the competition.
• Check the history between the two teams.
• Analyze each team's recent results.
• Know the international experience of both teams (Euro, World Cup, Olympics, VNL).
• Be aware of the latest information about both teams (absence or poor form of certain key players).

By following these 7 tips to the letter before betting, you will have most of the information you need to make your sports betting choices. Our specialists will also be there to support you and give you valuable advice throughout the 2025 Volleyball World Championships.

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Stats to know for your predictions

Making accurate predictions often comes down to following statistical trends, and this 2025 Volleyball World Cup will be no exception! Here are some important stats from the last edition of the tournament, as we approach the start of this year's competition:

• Exact score 3-0: 56% of matches
• Exact score 3-1: 23% of matches
• Exact score 3-2: 21% of matches
• Matches with a comeback (0-2 / 3-2): 6%
• Average points per set: 44.8 points
• Average points per match: 163.7 points

To sum up, 44% of matches were played in 4 sets or more, making for evenly matched contests. However, it should be noted that this statistic may be skewed during the group stage, where matches may be less evenly matched. But don't worry, our experts will be there to give you their advice from the first stage onwards and help you accumulate winning bets throughout the competition using these statistics.

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So, how can you make accurate predictions for the Men's World Championship?

By combining the advice of our experts with your own personal knowledge, you'll be ready to place your bets on the 2025 Volleyball World Cup.

Before confirming your prediction, take the time to analyze each match and each team, and don't forget to check the stats and recent performances of the countries participating in the competition. If you follow all these rules, you'll give yourself the best chance of success at the 2025 Volleyball World Cup!

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Our current predictions for the Volleyball World Championship

There are no previews at the moment for this competition