The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025, held in the Philippines from 12 to 28 September, marked a new era for the sport with an expanded format of 32 national teams and a historic first-time host in Asia. The event became a symbol of volleyball’s global rise, breaking audience records and confirming its growing commercial and media footprint worldwide.

Hosting the tournament in Manila reinforced the region’s position on the global sporting map. With matches played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the competition drew record attendances during the final rounds. The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball -FIVB- praised the tournament’s organization and logistics, highlighting its value as a model for future events in Asia and its role within the federation’s broader roadmap to strengthen volleyball’s presence across the continent.

Record media reach and television audiences across Europe and Asia

In Europe, the Championship achieved outstanding viewing figures in key markets. The final between Italy and Bulgaria averaged 2.8 million viewers on RAI 2, ranking among the five most-watched live sports broadcasts of the year in Italy outside football. In Bulgaria, the match was simulcast across all four national television networks, while in Poland, the semifinal between Poland and Italy drew 1.9 million viewers on Polsat’s free-to-air channel, capturing almost a quarter of the national TV audience at that time. Six of the seven most-watched sporting broadcasts of the weekend were World Championship matches, reaffirming volleyball’s dominance in one of its strongest European markets.

Asia also delivered exceptional numbers. The pool-stage clash between Serbia and China attracted more than 4.7 million viewers, up 38% from the country’s peak audience in 2022. The Championship’s digital distribution strategy—built around partnerships with regional streaming platforms—generated over 147 million impressions, 31 million unique viewers and nearly nine million engagements. Crucially, 94% of the total audience came from these new digital partners, further strengthening volleyball’s position in one of its fastest-growing markets.

Digital growth and an expanding economic model

VBTV, the global OTT platform operated by Volleyball World, recorded more than five million streams and 180 million watch-minutes throughout the competition. The Italy–Bulgaria final became its most-watched match ever, with 220,000 live streams. On social media, the Championship delivered one of volleyball’s most successful digital performances to date, gaining 129,500 new followers worldwide and over 22 million engagements from localized campaigns in China.

The tournament’s economic footprint in the Philippines was also significant. Local sources estimate total investment at around 25 million USD from public and private partners, along with substantial tourism and media returns. Philippine National Volleyball Federation President Tats Suzara stated that the event “has positioned the Philippines as an international volleyball destination and strengthened regional cooperation across Southeast Asia.” For the FIVB, the Championship represented a key step in its commercial strategy, focused on diversifying revenue through broadcast rights, sponsorship and direct-to-consumer digital subscriptions.

The tournament concluded with Italy defeating Bulgaria 3-1 in the final, closing a historic edition on and off the court. FIVB President Fabio Azevedo noted that “the 2025 World Championship once again proved volleyball’s ability to unite and grow in new territories.” Meanwhile, Volleyball World CEO Ugo Valensi emphasized that “the success in the Philippines confirms volleyball’s global value and the strength of its digital community.” The FIVB has already confirmed that Manila will host the women’s edition in 2029, reinforcing Asia’s central role in the sport’s expansion over the next decade.