2025 feels like a big year. Two volleyball world championships are set to unfold back-to-back in Southeast Asia. That means double the action and new chapters in the sport’s history. First up, the women take center stage in Thailand.
Later, the men will light up the Philippines. These tournaments aren’t just about who wins a trophy, as they are also historic in their format and locations.
Getting an early look
A lot of people are looking for early insights and predictions as they look to place their own bets and work out what they think might play out in the upcoming tournament. It is the pinnacle of the sport and some will be planning to place bets on the tournament winner or on individual fixtures. It can also help bettors to do research on promotions they may be able to take advantage of. Exploring exactly how sportsbook promos work can give people a good idea of what is available when betting on international sports tournaments like these. Special championship promotions may be available for new or existing customers.
Ladies first – Thailand hosts a first
Thailand is making history by welcoming the Women’s World Championship from 22 August to 7 September, spanning four cities. The players will head to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima.
It’s the first time Thailand has hosted the senior women’s world tournament, and it will be the first World Championship held in the whole of Southeast Asia for the women’s game. It includes a new, double-year cycle format, with 32 teams living out a round-robin pool phase before heading into straight knock-out rounds.
The draw splits teams into eight pools (A to H), each hosted at different venues around the country. The top seeds like Serbia (defending champions), Italy, Brazil, China and Japan are sprinkled across different pools. Italy are strongly fancied, while the likes of Kenya and Cuba are considered huge outsiders for the tournament.
With new teams making their debut and returning teams like Slovakia, Sweden and Cuba stepping back on the stage, this edition promises a fresh blend of known stars and new challengers. Outsiders Poland or Brazil could challenge Serbia for the title, but extra attention will be on how co-host Thailand handles pressure and home-court energy.
The men’s edition in Manila
The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship arrives in Metro Manila Philippines, from 12 to 28 September. The Philippines beat Japan and Indonesia to win the bid. Games will be split between the SM Mall of Asia Arena and the Araneta Coliseum (known as the Big Dome). They’re both massive venues and it’ll be interesting to see how they work for the sport’s showcase.
Just like the women’s side, the men’s tournament has expanded to 32 teams, up from 24. That means representation from continents around the globe. The format is identical: pool play feeds into a knockout bracket. It will be a longer road to the final for some, and quality will shine through over the course of the tournament.
Italy arrives to defend the title they claimed in 2022. The Italians had a long wait for that silverware, having gone without a win for 24 years after their dominating team of the 1990s. The draw has placed them as the top seed in their pool.
Predictions in brief
Women’s side: Serbia is expected to defend well, but Brazil and Italy could be serious threats. Turkey can’t be ignored for the tournament. At the moment, Italy probably look like a cut above the rest – but you just never know beforehand. We know the importance of setting goals in volleyball, but a lot of these nations will just be looking to perform as best they can on this stage. It is, after all, pretty new to the likes of Kenya and Cuba!
Men’s side: Italy arrives battle-tested – they might be hoping to make it a double for the summer by then. But the Philippines’ hosts might cause a few upsets and fun moments in front of home fans. Watch Brazil and Poland in their pools. They could carve a path to the final and the Polish team has been one of the most successful from Europe throughout the history of the tournament.
Conclusion
There’s never been more World Championship volleyball in a single year. It will be available to watch and follow, and many will be tuning in.
Predictions are often made with gambling in mind. Remember to gamble responsibly if you are going to, and never chase losses or bet when you are frustrated. There are numerous support organizations available to help with responsible betting.
However things pan out, this could be a landmark year in the history of the sport. The Asian countries are likely to get a lot out of hosting the tournaments, and a whole new fanbase could be opened up.
