Iran pick up pace to claim second win at Boys' U17 World Championship

Iran collected their second victory at the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship on Friday, joining France, defending champions Italy and Bulgaria among the teams building strong starts in Doha, Qatar, while 2024 silver medalists Argentina responded to their opening day defeat with their first win.

Iran raised their level as the match progressed to defeat Pakistan 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-18) in Pool E at Aspire Ladies Hall. Tested through two competitive opening sets, Iran gradually found more opportunities in attack and at the net, turning a close contest into a more convincing finish in the third.

Captain Sina Hazrati and Arash Ashrafi shared the scoring lead with 16 points apiece. Arash was particularly efficient in attack, converting 14 of 24 attempts, while Sina contributed 13 attacks, two blocks and an ace. Azhvan Namazi added 11 points, and Iran’s work at the net extended beyond their leading scorers as the team amassed 11 blocks and finished with a 47-30 advantage in attack points.

Pakistan stayed close through the first two sets before Iran created greater separation in the third. Muhammad Waleed Khan led Pakistan with seven points, while captain Muhammad Irfan and Faizan Ullah sscored six each, but Iran’s deeper range of attacking options and blocking pressure allowed them to take control of the match and close it in three sets.

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France made it two wins from two in Pool A with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-11, 25-11) victory over hosts Qatar at Aspire Ladies Hall. The identical set scores reflected France’s consistency across the match, with their attack producing 37 points alongside nine blocks and three aces.

Jaden Ebagne Yon and Noé Sognon shared the scoring lead with 15 points each but contributed in different ways. Ebagne Yon combined 11 attacks with two blocks and two aces, while Sognon put away 12 attacks and added two blocks and an ace. Enzo Savalli contributed seven points, including five attacks and two blocks, giving France another presence through the middle.

For Qatar, Ahmed Hamdy Hussein led the scoring with five points from four attacks and a block. The hosts also recorded 31 digs as they worked to keep rallies alive, while France maintained their scoring rhythm across all three sets to complete their second win in Doha.

Defending champions Italy faced their first real interruption in Doha and responded with plenty of options. After India snapped the championship-wide run of 12 consecutive straight-set matches by taking the second set, Italy regrouped behind a balanced attack to win 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-19, 25-18) in Pool B at Al Arabi Sports Hall.

Samuele Filippi grew stronger as the match progressed, scoring four points in the third set and six in the fourth to finish with a team-high 17. Federico Guiotto supplied 15 points, including six in the third, while Michele Mangini made 12 of his 18 attacks count and added two blocks in a 14-point performance. Skipper Samuele Storini brought another presence at the net with four of Italy’s 10 blocks.

Rafik Ahmad gave India a consistent attacking outlet and finished as the match’s leading scorer with 20 points, including 17 attacks and two aces, while Ankit Dutta contributed 13. Italy, however, had three players score at least 14 points and produced 48 attack points, giving the defending champions the range of options needed to come through their first four-set test of the tournament.

Argentina put their opening-day setback behind them with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) victory over Mexico in Pool C at Aspire Ladies Hall. After falling to Poland in straight sets in their first match, Argentina responded with a much stronger showing at the net, where their 12 blocks became the defining feature of their first win in Doha.

Captain Valentin Tomas Bianchi led Argentina with 15 points, putting away 15 attacks, while Juan Bautista Alonso delivered 14 points with 10 attacks and a match-high four blocks. His brother Juan Manuel Alonso addd nine points and Maximiliano Jacuzzi scored eight, including three blocks, as Argentina spread the scoring while repeatedly finding ways to stop Mexico at the net. Their 12 blocks provided the biggest difference, with Argentina also adding three aces.

Mexico actually finished with a 45-44 edge in attack points and kept Argentina under pressure, particularly in the two 25-22 sets. Francisco Sebastian Merino Romero produced a match-high 17 points and Yanis Alexander Medrano Jiménez added 14, but Argentina’s blocking helped them control the key exchanges and finish each set before Mexico could turn their offensive production into a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria navigated two very different challenges from Spain to secure their second Pool D victory, winning 3-1 (30-28, 25-22, 19-25, 25-16) at Al Arabi Sports Hall. They first came through an extended 30-28 opening set, then later had to reset after Spain took the third, answering with a 25-16 fourth set to finish the match.

Captain Milko Bagdasarov was involved throughout with 21 points from 17 attacks, two blocks and two aces, but Bulgaria’s scoring extended well beyond their leading hitter. Veli Sezgin Sali contributed 14 points, while middle blockers Danil Riciu and Krastin Ilov scored 12 and 11, respectively, with five blocks apiece. That gave Bulgaria four players in double figures and 13 blocks across the four sets.

Spain found plenty of offensive production of their own, finishing only four attack points behind Bulgaria, 51-47. Roger Monzo led their scoring with 15 points, Alex Pozzato added 12 and Victor Chamorro 10, as Spain tested Bulgaria with several scoring options across the four sets.

Saturday’s pool play features five matches across the two venues in Doha. At Aspire Ladies Hall, Tunisia face Venezuela in Pool A at 11:00, Brazil take on Poland in Pool C at 14:00, and Chinese Taipei meet Algeria in Pool E at 17:00. At Al Arabi Sports Hall, Cuba play Romania in Pool B at 14:00, followed by Egypt against Türkiye in Pool D at 17:00.

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