The 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship draw has revealed a tough group stage for Asian heavyweights Qatar. They are placed in Pool B alongside powerhouse teams Poland, the Netherlands, and Romania. Qatar, who secured the bronze medal at the last Asian Men’s Championships in 2023, will be aiming to advance to the knockout stages in their second appearance at the global volleyball event in Pasay and Quezon City, Philippines.
The draw ceremony held in Manila confirmed the eight pools for the championship, with strong opponents facing off in each group. Pool A has hosts Philippines, four-time Asian champions Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia. Pool C sees defending Olympic champions France up against two-time South American champions Argentina, Finland, and South Korea. The United States, ranked No.3 in the world, headlines Pool D along with Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia.
Pool E features Slovenia, ranked No.4 in the world, competing against Germany, Bulgaria, and Chile. Pool F includes holders Italy battling Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria. Pool G has reigning Asian title holders Japan facing Canada, Turkiye, and Libya. Pool H promises exciting battles as three-time title winners Brazil take on Serbia, Czechia, and China to complete the 32-team draw.
The tournament will be held in the Philippines for the first time, with two world-class venues, Smart Arena Coliseum and the SM Mo Arena, ready to host the action. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stages, where the competition will intensify as teams vie for the title of world champions.
Qatar faces a tough challenge in Pool B, with Poland, the Netherlands, and Romania as their opponents. Poland, ranked No.1 in the world and three-time champions, have a strong tournament pedigree and will be looking to add another title to their collection. The Netherlands, runners-up in the 1994 edition, bring their experience to the table, while Romania, two-time runners-up, complete the group of formidable opponents.
The Championship draw has set the stage for high-stakes matches in the pool stage, with teams fighting for a spot in the knockout rounds. Qatar will need to bring their A-game to compete against some of the best teams in the world and secure a place in the next round of the tournament. With the action set to unfold in the Philippines, volleyball fans can look forward to an exciting and competitive tournament as the world’s top teams battle it out for the title of world champions.
