The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship has become a thrilling fusion of global flair and tactical brilliance, thanks to the men on the sidelines.
Nearly a third of the field is guided by Italian masterminds, turning this 32-nation championship into a showcase of Italy’s coaching pedigree.
Argentina’s coaching contingent also leaves a powerful imprint, while some teams have found success with homegrown tacticians who know their squads inside out.
Italian DNA
Italian coaching brilliance is shaping the rhythm of the tournament, with ten teams guided by strategists from the volleyball hotbed.
Ferdinando de Giorgi steers defending champions Italy with calculated flair, and his squad remains a favorite to repeat.
Andrea Giani orchestrates France, the Olympic gold medalists and current world No. 4, with cool authority and a deep bench of elite talent.
A-list in coaching
Italain DNA is evident in Pool A, where Alas Pilipinas battles valiantly on home soil.
Egypt, Iran, and Tunisia each reflect a distinct Italian-influenced playing style.
Helmed by Camilo Placi—former Bulgaria coach and part of Russia’s 2008 Olympic bronze-winning staff—Tunisia has shown its might and positioned itself as a contender for the knockout rounds.
Egypt, led by Marco Bonitta, is also showing disciplined structure and resilience.
Iran, Asia’s No. 2 team, coached by Roberto Piazza, continues to blend power with precision.
Alas Pilipinas, meanwhile, has been under veteran tactician Angiolino Frigoni for over a year and has shown flashes of brilliance in the loaded group.
Turning Heads
Bulgaria is turning heads early in the championship, delivering clutch performances and proving they’re no pushovers.
Under the tactical leadership of Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini, the team has already secured a spot in the Round of 16 with two thrilling victories in Pool E. Slovenia, fresh off a fourth-place finish in the Volleyball Nations League, is thriving under Fabio Soli.
Belgium has also dished out commanding performances, making a bold statement on the world stage under the guidance of Italian coach Emanuele Zanini.
Colombia is competing under the guidance of Italy’s Paolo Montagnani, continuing the Italian coaching wave.
Four Argentine aces
Argentina’s coaching influence is felt across the tournament, with four seasoned tacticians guiding different national teams.
Marcelo Rodolfo Mendez has Argentina playing with grit and flair in Pool C.
Chile is making a comeback in the volleyball world championship this year after a 43-year absence, with coach Daniel Nejamkin leading a spirited squad hungry for recognition. They may be underdogs in a tough pool featuring Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Germany, but they’ve played with heart.
Camilo Andres Soto has instilled in the Qatar squad an aggressive style of play, although it has been difficult to find rhythm in a loaded pool led by world No. 1 Poland, the Netherlands, and Romania.
Raul Lucio Lozano, meanwhile, brings experience and poise to Ukraine, which has shown tactical sharpness and solid defense in a stacked pool that includes defending champion Italy, Belgium, and Algeria.
Homegrown hopes
Karch Kiraly of the US is among the homegrown coaches in the field, along with Brazil’s Bernardo Rezende.
The Cuban team is being handled Jesus Angel Cruz Lopez, Daniel Lewis calls the shots for Canada, while Czechia has Jiri Novak on the sidelines.
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