Italy caps off FIVB Worlds in Manila with win in finale, defends crown against Bulgaria

Italy stamped its authority once again on men’s volleyball’s biggest stage, overpowering Bulgaria in four sets, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10, to complete a golden repeat at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Before a roaring crowd of 16,429 fans — the largest attendance ever recorded for a men’s volleyball match in the Philippines — the defending champions became just the fourth nation in history to win back-to-back World titles, joining the Soviet Union, Brazil, and Poland. The victory also gave the Azzurri their fifth world crown, further cementing their dominance in the modern era.

For Bulgaria, it was heartbreak at the final hurdle. After sweeping their way through the tournament and rekindling memories of their breakthrough silver in 1970, the Eastern Europeans ran into an Italian side that refused to loosen its grip on volleyball supremacy. 

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ICYMI: Defending champion Italy endured a third set hiccup before regaining control to turn back Bulgaria and reign supreme in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.

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Yuri Romano, named the tournament’s Best Opposite Hitter, was unstoppable with 22 points anchored on 16 attacks, five aces, and a block. His serving turned the tide in the second set, where he landed all five of his aces in succession to silence the Bulgarian momentum.

Meanwhile, Ale Michieletto, crowned FIVB Worlds MVP, added 11 points to Italy’s tally, while late addition Mattia Bottolo delivered a surprise 19-point performance that gave Italy the scoring depth it needed to finish the job.

Captain Simone Giannelli, who once again proved why he’s the heartbeat of the squad, orchestrated the attack with 36 excellent sets on top of four points, earning his second straight Best Setter honor at the Worlds.

For the Bulgarians, the silver medal marked their best showing in over five decades, yet they leave Manila knowing they had been bested by a generational Italian squad that continues to raise the bar for excellence.

As confetti fell and history was written inside the MOA Arena, one thing became clear: Italy’s golden era in world volleyball is far from over.

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