Big stars missed in VNL back on rosters for men’s World Championship

The long lists of 25 players per participating team were released some five weeks ahead of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship to spark excitement among the fans about the stellar presence on the courts of the biggest volleyball competition, set to be held in the Philippines from September 12 to 28. These lists will serve as the basis for the actual tournament rosters, which will be finalized at the preliminary inquiries just before the start of the competition and can be formed by a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 14 athletes from the long lists.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship team rosters (subject to eligibility verification to be conducted by the FIVB)

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A lot of the top international stars in men’s volleyball already got an opportunity to shine at the world level this season, in the Volleyball Nations League. Others excelled in their continental competitions helping their teams earn precious World Ranking points. For some, the competitive season will actually start with the World Championship as they took a well-deserved break to rest and recover ahead of the year’s most important competition.

In defending world champions Italy’s team, for example, the fans may see the return of experienced star middle blocker Roberto Russo, a member of the squad that earned the world title three years ago. In fact, 11 of the 14 athletes from that squad are on the long list now, including those who led Italy to the VNL 2025 silver like Dream Teamers Simone Giannelli and Alessandro Michieletto.

The reigning Olympic champions of the last two editions of the Games may have their brightest star return to the team for the World Championship, as the Most Valuable Player of both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Earvin Ngapeth is on coach Andrea Giani’s list. So is the entire line-up of 13 players, who triumphed on top of the Olympic podium last summer. Powerful opposite Stephen Boyer, an Olympic champ at Tokyo 2021, who missed this year’s VNL, is also on the list.

The world’s number one team Poland relies, of course, on VNL 2025 MVP Jakub Kochanowski and Dream Teamers Kewin Sasak and Wilfredo Leon, as well as everybody else, who was part of their impeccable gold-medal performance at last week’s Finals in Ningbo. Their long list also features super star Bartosz Kurek. Unfortunately, injured Aleksander Sliwka is still missing.

All 14 players, who carried Brazil to VNL 2025 bronze in China last week, can see their names on the team’s long list for the Philippines, including the Best Libero of the competition Maique Reis Nascimento.

Slovenia’s 14 from Ningbo, who dethroned defending VNL champions France and finished in a prestigious fourth place, captained by Dream Team middle blocker Jan Kozamernik, made coach Fabio Soli’s long list for the World Championship, in addition to stellar presence from the likes of Klemen Cebulj, Alen Pajenk, Dejan Vincic, Gregor Ropret and usual captain Tine Urnaut.

Newly married star opposite Yuji Nishida may return to the Japanese national team stellar squad for their World Championship campaign, along with those who finished sixth in VNL 2025.

Without Nimir Abdel-Aziz, the Netherlands failed to save themselves from VNL relegation, but the country’s brightest star looks set to return to the squad for the World Championship.

Prominent playmaker Luciano De Cecco highlights Argentina’s list. USA’s Micah Christenson and Taylor Averill, Canada’s Nicholas Hoag and Arthur Szwarc, Germany’s Linus Weber and Anton Brehme and Serbia’s Petar Krsmanovic are some of many other possible experienced returnees to their teams worth noting.

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