Red-hot Bulgaria tests its momentum against underdog Portugal in a Round of 16 battle at the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship.
Bulgaria looks to ride its hot streak into the knockout stage when it faces Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship on Monday, Sept. 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Led by Aleksandar and Simoni Nikolov, Bulgaria has emerged as one of the tournament’s most impressive squads.
The Bulgarians dominated Pool E to advance as the top seed, showcasing depth and consistency that make them one of the contenders to watch for in the knockout rounds.
[ALSO READ: Martin Atanasov not surprised as unbeaten Bulgaria sets sights on FIVB World Round of 16]
Portugal, meanwhile, had to take the long road to the Round of 16.
The Portuguese kept their campaign alive with a gritty reverse sweep of Colombia, rallying from two sets down for a 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 15-11 victory.
Their fate then rested on Team USA’s result against Cuba — and the Americans delivered with a four-set win that officially punched Portugal’s ticket to the next round.
[ALSO READ: With the Round of 16 berth in sight, Nuno Marques, Portugal now await fate in the FIVB Worlds]
With Bulgaria looking to sustain its momentum and Portugal eager to extend its improbable run, Monday’s clash promises to deliver drama as both teams chase a coveted quarterfinal berth.
First serve is scheduled 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.]