Alas Men pooled with African and Asian powerhouses in FIVB World Championship

Alas Pilipinas Men braces for tough challenges as they face strong adversaries in Pool A of the 2025 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball or FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.

Host Philippines was grouped with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia in the first round of the world championship following the culmination of the drawing lots on Saturday, September 14, at Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque City.

Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni recognized the big responsibility and big challenge for the No. 64 Alas Pilipinas in the international championship scheduled for next year.

Alas Pilipinas Men braces for tough challenges as they face strong adversaries in Pool A of the 2025 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball or FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.
PHOTO COURTESY: PNVF
KEANNA WREN

"For us, all teams are pretty difficult. But those two [Egypt and Tunisia] are not that difficult as Italy, as Poland, as the likes. It is a big responsibility and a big challenge for us that we're having this World Championships," Frigoni said.

Tunisia, who ranks 24th in the world rankings, is an 11-time African Championship title holder, while world No. 20 Egypt men’s national volleyball team also post a huge challenge being a nine-time continental champion.

Meanwhile, the Philippines will try to score the biggest upset as they face world No. 15 Iran who is the runner up of 2023 Asian Championships and has four continental golds to its name.

The top two squads from each pool will advance to the knockout stage.

Three-time world champion and world No. 1 Poland spearheads Pool B with Romania, Qatar, and Netherlands, while world No. 2 France is grouped with Argentina, South Korea and Finland in Pool C.

In Pool D, world No. 3 USA will collide with Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia as world No. 4 Slovenia is pooled with Germany, Bulgaria, and Chile.

Pool G will be headlined by the crowd’s darling world No. 6 Japan along with Canada, Turkey, and Libya, while world No. 7 Brazil will clash with Serbia, Czechia, and China in Pool H.

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