Day 2: The debuts of heavyweights USA, Poland and Japan highlight the second day of the Volleyball Men's World Championship

One day after hosts the Philippines and Tunisia featured in a historic opening match, the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship continues on Saturday, when half of the 32 teams that participate in the tournament will make their debuts.

Pools B, D, E and G will each have their first two matches in the metro area of the Filipino captail Manila on the second day of action, which will have the debuts of past champions the United States and Poland and Asian giants Japan as the highlights of the schedule.

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Pool B

The debut of three-time world champions Poland will be the highlight of the day in Pool B. Dethroned by Italy in 2022 after winning back-to-back golds in 2014 and 2018, the newly-crowned VNL champions will count of their army of outside hitters Wilfredo León and Tomasz Fornal, opposite Bartosz Kurek and middle blocker Jakub Kochanowski to start their campaign with a victory against Romania, which return to the world stage for the first time since 1982. The teams will meet in the last match of the day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, in Quezon City, at 21:30 local time (13:30 GMT).

“Many of the Romanian players defend clubs in the Polish League,” Fornal reflected. “These teams that are not considered favorites have nothing to lose, so we definitely don’t expect an easy match. Everyone will try to bring their best against us, but if we manage to play at our usual level, nothing should stop us from winning the pool.”

Earlier, at 18:00 (10:00 GMT), the Netherlands and Qatar will meet in the other match of the pool, and will be determined to start on the right foot. While the Dutch are rebuilding their team after the arrival of new head coach Joel Banks, the Qataris want to continue to trend upwards in the international scene and improve from their first appearance at the World Championship, in 2022, when they ranked 21^st.

Pool D

The United States will have an early start to their campaign in Pool D, playing in the first match of the day, scheduled for 10:00 (2:00 GMT), against Colombia, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in Pasay City. With the returns of Olympic medalists Micah Christenson and Taylor Averill, who didn’t play in the Volleyball Nations League, the Americans should be too much for a young Colombian team that has been making strides, but will be playing in their first-ever World Championship match.

A few hours later, at 13:30 (5:30 GMT), Cuba and Portugal will meet in what could be a critical match in terms of qualifying for the next round. The Caribbeans have elite-level stars in their squad, such as middle blocker Robertlandy Simón and Marlon Yant, but the Europeans have an experienced core and won’t be impressed by the stage.

Pool E

European rivals Germany and Bulgaria will be the first teams to get on the court in Pool E – they’re scheduled to meet at 17:30 (9:30 GMT), in Pasay City. An opening-match victory could place the winners very close to the Round of 16, and while the Germans will put their faith in veteran opposite György Grozer, the Bulgarians will expect great performances from their star duo formed by 21-year-old outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov and his younger brother, 18-year-old Simeon, who’s the team’s setter.

The day will end in Pasay City with the encounter involving Slovenia and Chile, at 21:00 (13:00 GMT). Led by opposite Tonček Štern, outside hitter Tine Urnaut and middle blocker Jan Kozamernik, the Europeans will be heavy favorites against the South Americans, who will count on outside hitters Dusan Bonacic and Vicente Parraguirre to challenge their rivals.

Pool G

Another candidate to stand on the podium in two weeks in the Philippines, reigning Asian champions Japan will have Türkiye as their opponents in their debut, at 14:00 (6:00 GMT), in Quezon City. The match will feature three of the most exciting outside hitters in the entire tournament, with Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi playing for Japan and Efe Mandıracı representing Türkiye.

Earlier, at 10:30 (2:30 GMT), Canada will meet Libya in the first match of the day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The North Americans will be led by veteran outside hitter Nicholas Hoag, while the Africans will count on the scoring power of opposite Ahmed Ikhbary to try to cause an upset in their first World Championship match in 45 years.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship: Match Schedule & Results

FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship schedule for Saturday, September 13, 2025

10:00 local time (2:00 GMT) – Pool D – USA vs. Colombia
10:30 local time (2:30 GMT) – Pool G – Canada vs. Libya
13:30 local time (5:30 GMT) – Pool D – Cuba vs. Portugal
14:00 local time (6:00 GMT) – Pool G – Japan vs. Türkiye
17:30 local time (9:30 GMT) – Pool E – Germany vs. Bulgaria
18:00 local time (10:00 GMT) – Pool B – The Netherlands vs. Qatar
21:00 local time (13:00 GMT) – Pool E – Slovenia vs. Chile
21:30 local time (13:30 GMT) – Pool B – Poland vs. Romania

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