Alas Pilipinas Men grouped with Iran, Egypt, Tunisia for 2025 FIVB World Championship

Alas Pilipinas Men have been bunched with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia during the drawing of lots of the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship on Saturday in Pasay City, a year before the country hosts the global event. 

The Filipinos, who currently rank 64th in the world, will take on the world no. 15 Iran, no. 20 Egypt, and no. 24 Tunisia in Pool A as the Philippines serves as host of the quadrennial event for the first time. It will also be the first time that the World Championship will be held in Southeast Asia. 

Iran is a powerhouse in the Asian region, copping the Asian Games title for three consecutive editions since 2014 in South Korea while Egypt saw action during the 2024 Paris Olympics but went winless. 

Tunisia, on the other hand, is a frequent participant in the World Championship, suiting up in sixth straight edition since 2002. 

Meanwhile, world no. 1 Poland leads Pool B alongside Netherlands, Qatar, and Romania while back-to-back Olympic gold medalist France is in Pool C together with Argentina, Finland, and South Korea. 

World no. 3 USA has been drawn in Pool D with Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia while making up Pool E are Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria, and Algeria. Pool F has Italy, Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria while Japan, Canada, Turkey, and Libya compose Pool G. 

Finally, Brazil. Serbia, Czechia, and China banner Pool H. 

The World Championship, which will happen from September 12 to 28, 2025, will see teams play in a single round robin format in each group with the top two teams advancing to the Round of 16. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News