Slovenia and Germany will square off in a win-or-go-home matchup, with the winner advancing to the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.
Unbeaten teams USA and Bulgaria look to maintain their flawless records as the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship preliminaries heat up Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
For Team USA, it’s been smooth sailing so far.
With a perfect record and no sets dropped, the Americans are already locked into the Round of 17 and will face the 1-1 Cuban squad at 5:30 p.m. in Pool D.
[ALSO READ: Erik Shoji, Team USA look to clean up on basics despite perfect start to FIVB Worlds]
Bulgaria, similarly, has already secured a spot in the knockout phase.
The Bulgarians will face Chile in Pool E at 1:30 p.m.,aiming to maintain their strong form and finish atop the pool.
[ALSO READ: Bulgaria survives Slovenia in five sets to secure Round of 16 spot at FIVB Worlds]
The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with Portugal’s crucial match against Colombia.
For Portugal, the scenario is simple: win, and hope Cuba falls to USA to secure a spot in the Round of 16.
The action will conclude at 9:00 p.m. with a high-stakes clash between Slovenia and Germany.
The winner will join Bulgaria as one of the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage, making it a do-or-die moment for both teams.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]