Team USA and Bulgaria will battle for a coveted semifinal slot in the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship.
Team USA braces for a tough challenge when it battles world No. 14 Bulgaria in the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship on Thursday, September 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Americans, who last lifted the world title in 1986, are determined to end their decades-long drought after placing sixth in the previous edition.
The world No. 5 advanced with a 19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20 victory over Slovenia in the Round of 16, showcasing the steady playmaking of star setter Micah Christenson.
[ALSO READ: Micah Christenson laces up love from home in Team USA's FIVB World Championship campaign]
Top scorer Gabriel Garcia and reliable wing Jordan Ewert also continue to lead the charge.
Bulgaria, however, has been one of the most consistent squads in the competition, dropping only two sets so far—both in their five-set thriller against Slovenia in the preliminaries.
The Bulgarians looked dominant in their Round of 16 sweep of Portugal, 25-19, 25-23, 25-13, already surpassing their 20th-place finish from 2022.
Aleksandar Nikolov fuels the attack, while his younger brother Simeon orchestrates the offense. Iliya Petkov and Martin Atanasov will also be called upon to lead the defensive line.
[ALSO READ: Nikolov brothers carry father's legacy in leading Bulgaria back to FIVB Worlds quarterfinals]
With both teams in peak form, the clash promises to be a battle of firepower and resilience as USA eyes a return to the podium and Bulgaria seeks a historic breakthrough.
First serve is set for 8:00 p.m.
(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.]