Iran finishes 8th at 2025 Volleyball World Championship as Italy defends title

Tehran - BORNA - The 2025 Volleyball World Championship concluded in the Philippines with Italy securing back-to-back titles, while Iran’s national team made significant progress, finishing in 8th place — a five-position climb compared to the previous edition.

The tournament hosted 32 national teams from September 11 to September 28 across multiple cities in the Philippines. In the final match on Sunday, Italy defeated Bulgaria 3–1, capturing the championship for the second consecutive time. Poland claimed third place after edging out the Czech Republic.

For Iran, the championship marked a notable improvement. Having ranked 13th in the 2022 edition, Team Melli advanced into the top eight this year, underlining its growing presence on the world stage despite facing powerhouse teams. Analysts view this rise as a testament to Iran’s depth of talent and the effectiveness of its development programs, even amid fierce global competition.

The final standings of the 2025 Volleyball World Championship are as follows:

1. Italy

2. Bulgaria

3. Poland

4. Czech Republic

5. United States

6. Turkey

7. Belgium

8. Iran

9. Argentina

10. Serbia

11. Slovenia

12. Tunisia

13. Netherlands

14. Canada

15. Finland

16. Portugal

17. Brazil

18. France

19. Philippines

20. Cuba

21. Germany

22. Qatar

23. Japan

24. Ukraine

25. Egypt

26. Colombia

27. South Korea

28. Libya

29. Romania

30. China

31. Chile

32. Algeria

Iran’s eighth-place finish places it ahead of traditional heavyweights such as Brazil, France, and Japan, signaling a shift in volleyball’s competitive balance and strengthening Iran’s ambitions to establish itself among the sport’s elite nations.

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