Men's Volleyball World Cup: groups, regulations and crossovers

The Men's Volleyball World Championship will begin this Friday (September 12th) in the Philippines. Just like the women's championship, 32 teams will be competing in the competition for the first time.

With the increase in the number of participants, the World Cup regulations have changed. There are eight groups of four teams, with only the top two advancing to the next stage. At the end of the group stage, only knockout matches will take place from the round of 16 onward.

Italy is the current world champion, after beating Poland in the 2022 final. The Brazilian team won the bronze medal.

Check out the eight groups of the 2025 Men's World Cup:

Group A: Philippines, Iran, Tunisia, Egypt

Group B: Poland, Netherlands, Qatar and Romania

Group C: France, Argentina, Finland and South Korea

Group D: United States, Cuba, Portugal and Colombia

Group E: Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria and Chile

Group F: Italy, Ukraine, Belgium, Algeria

Group G: Japan, Canada, Türkiye and Libya

Group H: Brazil, Serbia, Czech Republic and China

CROSSINGS IN THE ELIMINATION PHASE

Since the group draw, the teams have known their path in the World Cup. Brazil, for example, is in Group H and will face off in the round of 16 and quarterfinals against the best teams from Group A, the weakest in the competition, "running away" from all the main contenders for the podium.

Here's what the round of 16 crossovers will look like:

First of A x second of H

First of H x second of A

First of B x second of G

First of G x second of B

First of C x second of F

First of F x second of C

First of D x second of E

First of E x second of D