Italy defends world title with back-to-back championships
Italy cemented its volleyball dynasty after overpowering Bulgaria, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10, to capture back-to-back FIVB Men’s World Championship titles before a record crowd of 16,429 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Yuri Romano spearheaded the win, delivering a masterclass in the gold medal showdown with 22 points built on 16 powerful attacks, one block, and five consecutive service aces that broke the game wide open late in the second set.
Mattia Bottolo and Alessandro Michieletto complimented Romano's brilliance, providing steady power with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, World No. 9 Bulgaria finishes with silver after pushing reigning champion Italy to the limit.
Bulgaria’s dream run may have fallen just short of the ultimate prize, but their return to the World Championship final for the first time in over half a century was nothing short of historic.
The young and fearless Nikolov brothers, Aleksandar and Moni, stood at the heart of the resurgence, igniting hope, pride, and the promise of a brighter future for Bulgarian volleyball.
With the victory, Italy reaffirmed its status as world volleyball’s top powerhouses.
