Women’s World Championship Pool Previews: Pool B

The most prestigious event in the international volleyball calendar in the 2025 season, the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship is set to enter a new era later this week, when the 20^th edition of the tournament starts in Thailand.

This year’s tournament, which will be held across four cities – Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket and Chiang Mai - from August 22 to September 7, will go down as the first in the new format, which will see the world title put in dispute every two years.

• Watch the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship 2025 live on VBTV

The event will also be the first to have an expanded field of 32 national teams, allowing more countries to participate in the sport’s main event and generating more opportunities for them to continue their development.

The 32 national teams were split into eight pools of four and will face each of their three opponents during pool play. The top two national teams in each pool will advance to the elimination rounds, which will feature the Round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semifinals and the medal matches.

Pool play will have as many as 48 matches held in the four host cities between August 22 and 27. For the elimination rounds, the competition moves entirely to Bangkok, which will host the Round of 16 from August 29 to September 1, the quarterfinals on September 3-4, the semifinals on September 6 and the medal matches on September 7.

It will be a historic edition of the World Championship and in the days leading up to the start of the tournament, we’ll preview each of the eight pools, giving you all the information you need to tune in on VBTV and enjoy the matches.

Pool B

Host City: Phuket

Match Schedule

August 22 – Belgium vs. Cuba – 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT)
August 22 – Italy vs. Slovakia – 20:30 local time (13:30 GMT)
August 24 – Italy vs. Cuba – 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT)
August 24 – Belgium vs. Slovakia – 20:30 local time (13:30 GMT)
August 26 – Italy vs. Belgium – 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT)
August 26 – Cuba vs. Slovakia – 20:30 local time (13:30 GMT)

Italy

Reigning Olympic and VNL champions Italy confirmed their presence in the World Championship in 2023, when they were fourth in the European Championship, taking one of the continent's three spots in the event - second-placed Serbia were already guaranteed as the defending champions. The Italians first made it to the World Championship in 1978 and never missed an edition after that, amassing 12 appearances and three medals - gold in 2002, silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

This year's tournament will represent a massive opportunity for the country's golden generation, which took them to the top of the FIVB World Ranking and triumphed at the Olympics and the VNL, to go for the title at the World Championship. Head Julio Velasco will be able to use the core of the team that has been making history over the last two years, as oppposite Paola Egonu, middle blockers Anna Danesi and Sarah Fahr, setter Alessia Orro, outside hitter Myriam Sylla and libero Monica De Gennaro, who could retire after the event, will all be available.

Belgium

Belgium earned the right to compete at this year's World Championship after qualifying through the FIVB World Ranking. The Europeans were present in the tournament's second edition, in 1956, but had long gaps and made only three other appearances before this year's edition - they were 13th in 1956, 22nd in 1978, 11th in 2014 and ninth in 2022.

Ranked 14th in the FIVB World Ranking, the Belgians heavily rely on the scoring power of star outside hitter Britt Heborts, who became just the third player to score 40 or more points at the World Championship in 2022, when she registered 41 against the Netherlands, to win matches. Setter Elise van Sas, opposite Pauline Martin and middle blockers Nathalie Lemmens and Silke Van Avermaet are other important players in the team coached by Kris Vansnick.

Cuba

Cuba secured their spot in the World Championship via the FIVB World Rankings and will return to the tournament after missing it for the first time in over 50 years in 2022. The Cubans are among the most successful national teams among the women, having won three golds (1978, 1994, 1998) and one silver (1986) in their 18 appearances, the first of which happened in 1970.

The Caribbean get to Thailand appearing in 28th place in the FIVB World Ranking. Recently hired, Brazilian head coach Luizomar de Moura has setter Gretell Moreno, opposite Dezirett Madan, outside hitters Evilania Martinez and Elizabeth Vicet and middle blocker Laura Suárez as the key players in the team.

Slovakia

Slovakia are set to make history in Thailand with their first participation at the World Championship. The national team previously attempted to secure a spot through the continental pathway but came up short before qualifying via the FIVB World Rankings this time. The Slovaks appeared in each edition of the European Golden League held in the last decade and won silver in 2016 and bronze in 2017.

The Europeans appear in 29th place in the FIVB World Rankings and could move up with good results at the World Championship. In order to do that, head coach Michal Mašek will need to get the best from setter Barbora Koseková, opposite Karin Šunderlíková, outside hitter Zuzana Šepeľová and libero Skarleta Jančová, who are the pillars of the team.

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