FIVB Men’s World Championship 2025: Bulgaria vs Portugal, USA vs Slovenia in Eighthfinals
Pasay City, Philippines – September 22, 2025: The Men’s Volleyball World Championship continues on Monday with two exciting eighthfinal clashes. Fans can look forward to a battle of underdogs as Bulgaria takes on Portugal, followed by a high-voltage showdown between USA and Slovenia for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Eighthfinal 5: Bulgaria vs Portugal
The first match of the day begins at 15:30 local time (07:30 UTC), with Bulgaria and Portugal meeting in Pasay City. Both teams impressed during the pool stage, proving themselves as surprise packages of the tournament.
Bulgaria, undefeated so far, secured top spot in Pool E by defeating Germany in straight sets, Slovenia in a thrilling five-setter, and Chile with a clean sweep. The team, ranked 13th in the world, is led by 21-year-old Aleksandar Nikolov, who emerged as the pool stage’s best attacker with 63 spike kills and 71 total points.
Portugal, meanwhile, shocked Cuba with a 3-1 victory and fought back from two sets down to beat Colombia. Their only loss came against powerhouse USA. The Portuguese side climbed to 22nd in the world rankings, with Nuno Marques standing out as the team’s top scorer with 46 points.
This marks the first Bulgaria–Portugal World Championship meeting since 2019, when both sides split victories in the Volleyball Nations League and European Championship.
Eighthfinal 6: USA vs Slovenia
The second match, starting at 20:00 local time (12:00 UTC), features a blockbuster clash between USA and Slovenia.
USA, ranked No. 4 in the world, dominated Pool D by beating Colombia and Portugal in straight sets and overcoming Cuba in four. The Americans, three-time World Championship medalists, are aiming for another deep run, with Gabriel Garcia leading their scoring charts at 36 points.
Slovenia, ranked No. 6, finished second in Pool E. They swept Chile, fell to Bulgaria in five sets, but bounced back with a crucial four-set victory over Germany. With middle blocker Jan Kozamernik ranked among the tournament’s best blockers (11 stuffs) and opposite Toncek Stern leading the team with 53 points, Slovenia poses a serious challenge to the U.S.
The head-to-head history between these two teams is evenly balanced, with two wins each in their last four meetings. Slovenia won their most recent encounter at the 2025 Volleyball Nations League in Rio, while USA triumphed in their 2023 Olympic qualifier.
Monday’s Schedule – September 22, 2025
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15:30 local (07:30 UTC): Bulgaria vs Portugal
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20:00 local (12:00 UTC): USA vs Slovenia
With both matches promising high drama, volleyball fans worldwide can expect a thrilling day as the road to the quarterfinals heats up.
