September 20, 2025

Turkiye, Netherlands open Round of 16 of FIVB Men's World Championship

Turkiye, Netherlands open Round of 16 of FIVB Men
Turkiye’s momentum and the Netherlands’ depth collide in a high-stakes Round of 16 showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports

Turkiye and the Netherlands collide in a high-stakes Round of 16 battle at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Mall of Asia Arena, with a ticket to the quarterfinals on the line.

The Turks emerged as one of the surprise stories of the group stage, topping Pool G with an unbeaten record.

Along the way, they outplayed two higher-ranked squads in Japan and Canada, showing grit and consistency to enter the knockout rounds as one of the tournament’s dark horses.

Turkiye will once again rely on the firepower of Ramazan Efe Mandiraci and Adis Lagumdzija to keep their dream run alive.

[ALSO READ: Adis Lagumdzija, Turkiye sweep Pool G of FIVB World Championship: 'We showed we can compete']

The Netherlands, meanwhile, delivered on expectations by placing second in Pool B to book their spot in the next round.

Even without star opposite Nimir Abdel-Aziz, the Dutch proved their depth with strong performances from Michiel Ahyi and Tom Koops, who will again be key in this crucial clash.

[ALSO READ: Netherlands’ Michiel Ahyi says fighting spirit key to crucial W vs Romania in FIVB Worlds]

With both teams hungry to advance, fans can expect a tightly contested encounter between Turkiye’s momentum-driven rise and the Netherlands’ balanced attack, as only one will punch a ticket to the quarterfinals.

First serve is set for 3:30 p.m.

[ALSO READ: Italy, Poland, USA continue quest for FIVB Worlds supremacy as Round of 16 gets going]

(With reports from Kiko Demigillo)

[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.]

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