Top-ranked Poland battles resilient Canada in a Round of 16 showdown at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
World no. 1 Poland looks to continue its dominant campaign when it takes on Canada in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The 2022 runner-up has been in top form through the preliminaries, dropping only one set so far.
Leading the charge for Poland is its powerhouse trio of Bartosz Kurek, Wilfredo Leon, and Tomasz Fornal, who have provided steady scoring and consistency throughout group play.
With their depth and experience, the Poles remain one of the heavy favorites to reach the final stages of the tournament.
[ALSO READ: After upsets in FIVB MWCH, Poland wary of ‘surprises’: ‘We didn’t want to join this club’]
Canada, however, is ready to embrace the underdog role.
The Canadians finished second in Pool G with a 2-1 record and have shown flashes of strong form.
Opposite Sharone Vernon-Evans will be the focal point of their attack, while Nick Hoag is expected to bring scoring prowess, which will be key if Canada hopes to spring an upset against the world's top-ranked squad.
[ALSO READ: Canada finds volleyball identity after claiming Round of 16 berth in FIVB Worlds vs Japan]
With a spot in the quarterfinals at stake, the clash promises to test Poland’s championship pedigree against Canada’s grit and hunger for a breakthrough on the world stage.
First serve is set for 8:00 p.m.
[ALSO READ: Italy, Poland, USA continue quest for FIVB Worlds supremacy as Round of 16 gets going]
(With reports from Kiko Demigillo)
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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.]