Four 100% European clashes highlight crunch Round of 16 at the 2025 FIVB Women's World Championship

The nine European teams still in the hunt for the crown at the 2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship will feature in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, in the next four days, as the knockout phase commences on Friday, 29 August.

Four quarter-finals will see an 100% European duel, with the continent certain of having at least four teams in the next phase of the competition, with the toughest duel being by far the one between title contenders Italy and Germany.

Italy have won the last seven competitive matches against Germany, including a 3:2 win in this edition’s Women’s Volleyball Nations League. The European powerhouse also has a streak of 29 consecutive wins in competitive matches, including sweeping their opponents at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and in the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League.

“Now the do-or-die matches begin in Bangkok, and it will be a battle starting with the match against Germany. They play a unique style of volleyball, and above all, they're well-played. I expect a tough match, especially considering the difficulties we faced in the VNL match played in Rio at the beginning of June. For these reasons, I believe Italy-Germany will be a very close match," said Italy’s Carlotta Cambi, according to the Italian Volleyball Federation website.

So far, Italy have the best record at Thailand 2025, winning three matches and conceding a single set against Belgium, Cuba and Slovakia, while Germany won against Kenya (3:0) and Vietnam (3:0), only conceding a loss against Poland (2:3).

The winner of the clash will face the winner of another all-European battle in the Round of 16, when Poland face Belgium. Poland, which did not make the top-4 since 1962, also have a perfect record, but they conceded four sets, including two against Germany in the pool phase.

Belgium have won three of the last five matches, but Poland have secured two straight-sets wins in the last two matches, one in August 2023, at the CEV EuroVolley Women 2023, and one in June, in the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League.

“I'm proud of the entire team because we fought like lions until the very end. I think we finally unlocked ourselves and truly believed that, despite some tough moments, we are a team that can fight against anyone and fight for the result until the very end,” said Poland’s star, Magdalena Stysiak.

These two matches will be played on Saturday, 30 August, but the Round of 16 will start on 29 August, when title holders Serbia will take on the Netherlands, while Japan face hosts Thailand.

Serbia might not have captain Tijana Bošković on the court, as the MVP of the last two editions of the competition has an ankle injury and missed the last match in the pool phase, against Japan, which can prove a mountain to climb for the European side.

Türkiye, aiming for their maiden medal at the World Championship, will be favoured against Slovenia on 1 September, after winning their three matches in the pool, while the last European side qualified on the bracket, France, are due to meet the People’s Republic of China.