European quartet in historic World Championships semifinals

The 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship has reached a turning point. For the first time, all four semifinal spots are occupied by European teams since the current competition format was introduced in 1978. Teams from Europe occupied the top four spots in the final standing of the competition in all previous editions contested from 1949 to 1966. Italy, Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria are through to the last four in the Philippines, which means the title and the final itself will stay entirely in European hands.

This is more than just a coincidence. In a global competition, having four teams from the same continent in the semifinals demonstrates the strength and consistency of European volleyball. No matter who wins, the trophy will not leave Europe.

Czechia started the day with a 3-1 win over Iran (22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-21). It is the first time they have ever reached a World Championship semifinal as an independent nation since the split of Czechoslovakia.

Iran started strongly, building a quick lead in the opening set and closing it with a back-row attack from Ali Hajipour. The second set proved decisive. Iran reached the set point first, but Czechia stayed calm. Marek Sotola served an ace to bring them level, and Lukáš Vašina followed with another to take the set 27-25. From then on, Czechia had the edge. They won the third 25-20 and finished the match in the fourth, with Jan Galabov scoring the winner.

Opposite Patrik Indra led with 22 points at a 69% success rate, while Vašina added 21. Iran’s best came from 21-year-old Poriya Khanzadeh and Hajipour, who each scored 18, but it was not enough to hold off the Czech comeback.

Later, Bulgaria produced one of the most remarkable matches of the tournament, coming back from two sets down to defeat the United States 3-2 (21-25, 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-13).

The USA was in control early, with strong serving and tight defense giving them the first two sets. Bulgaria’s response began in the third, where Iliya Petkov dominated the middle with quick attacks and aces. The set ended 25-17, and suddenly the tide was turning.

The fourth was balanced throughout. Both teams traded points, but at 24-22, it was Asparuh Asparuhov who stepped up with a kill block to push the match to a tie-break.

In the tie-break, Aleksandar Nikolov scored Bulgaria’s first four points, followed by two more from his younger brother Simeon. That early lead gave them the cushion they needed. The USA saved three match points, but Petkov delivered the final spike to complete Bulgaria’s comeback.

Aleksandar Nikolov was outstanding with 29 points, while Asparuhov added 12 and Petkov 10. For the USA, the strong start faded as Bulgaria grew in confidence and refused to let the match slip away.

With Italy and Poland qualifying a day earlier, today’s results ensured a semifinal lineup made up entirely of European sides. This guarantees not only a European champion, but also an all-European final — a rare sight in the history of the World Championship. 

Italy, Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria will now contest the last four, each aiming for a place in the final. For European volleyball, this is a significant moment: the continent has taken every spot at the top of the competition.