Members of the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team along with coach Angiolino Frigoni during the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship draw. –PNVF PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A tough first round awaits Alas Pilipinas as the host takes on Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2025 set for next year.
With the Philippines automatically seeded in Pool A as the host country, Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia were grouped to play with Alas Pilipinas during the draw Saturday evening at Solaire Grand Ballroom.
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Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena will host the world championships from September 12-28 next year.
READ: Fans give Philippines its biggest edge in FIVB men’s worlds hosting
Alas, which is now under Italian coach Angiolino Frigoni, will face world No.15 and Asian championship runner-up Iran.
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That completes Alas Pilipinas group with Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia. #MWCH2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/rCrjyTtwXN
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 14, 2024
The Ranked No.64 Filipinos will also take on World No.20 and African champion Egypt and 11-time African titlist Tunisia, which is World No. 24.
The Alas players, led by Buds Buddin and Kim Malabunga, were present in the draw, which was ran by ambassadors former Thailand women’s volleyball setter Nootsara Tomkom, Dutch star Nimid Abdel-Aziz, and Tine Urnaut of Slovenia.
READ: Alas Pilipinas men ‘still very far’ from high level, admits new coach
Meanwhile, the seven top-ranked teams are scattered among the last seven groups with World No.1 Poland bannering Pool B with the Netherlands, Qatar, and Romania.
Olympic champion France headlines Pool C with Argentina, Finland, and South Korea.
Team USA faces Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia with Group D.
Slovenia is slated in Pool E with Germany, Bulgaria, and Chile, as defending world champion Italy opens its title bid in Pool F with Ukraine, Belgium, and Algeria.
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Fan favorite Japan is in Pool G with Canada, Turkiye, and Libya, while Brazil plays Serbia, Czechia, and China in Pool H.
Top two from each pool will advance to the knockout stage of the competition.
