AVC and PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara speaks before the 39th FIVB World Congress in Porto, Portugal. Handout/PNVFMANILA -- The Philippines' build-up to the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship (MWCH) shifts to a higher gear on New Year's Day, with nine months to go before the country hosts the showpiece volleyball event.

Thirty-one of the world's top men's volleyball teams will be in the Philippines from September 12-28 for the world championships that will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena and the Araneta Coliseum.

"This is the time when the preparations and organization start to be meticulous every single day, it's the world championship year of the FIVB and as host country for first time—and solo host at that—the mission borders from an excellent to almost perfect hosting of the event," said Ramon "Tats" Suzara, head of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation who in 2024 was elected president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and executive vice president of the FIVB.

"We've done it before and we're expected to do it again," added Suzara, who was on top of the country's co-hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 as its chief implementor.

Adding to Suzara's confidence is the support that they received from the government, after Malacañang formalized its commitment during a meeting last April 30, followed by the "Concierto sa Palacio" in September for the One-Year countdown that was attended by the president and the first lady. 

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Meanwhile, the first Inter-Agency Technical Working Group Meeting initiated by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) last November at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The Local Organizing Committee for the FIVB MWCH 2025 is composed of Senator Pia Cayetano, Manuel V. Pangilinan, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and PSC chairman Richard Bachmann.

Significant activities will precede the world championship, including the International Road Show spread over the first half of the year and Mascot Contest and Launch, Trophy Tour, Media Broadcast Conference, Team Managers Meeting, Test Event and 100-Day Countdown in June.

The Philippines is in Pool A with 11-time African champion Tunisia, current Africa titleist and Paris Olympian Egypt and 2024 Asian championship runner-up Iran.

World No. 1 Poland wisas in Pool B with Romania, Qatar and The Netherlands, while Volleyball Nations League champion France was grouped in Pool C with Korea, Finland and Argentina; the United States in Pool D with Colombia, Portugal and 2010 silver medalist Cuba; Slovenia in Pool E with Chile, Bulgaria and 2014 bronze medalist Germany; 2022 world champion Italy in Pool F with Algeria, Belgium and Ukraine; Libya, European league 2023 winner Turkiye and Canada in Pool G; and Brazil, 2024 Challenge Cup winner China, Czech Republic and Serbia in Pool H.

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