Make way for great men! A week after the end of the Women’s World Cup of volleyball – marked by the beautiful French journey with a historic quarter -final -, it’s the gentlemen’s turn to meet for a battle at the top.
From this Friday, September 12, until Sunday, September 28, the 21st edition of the world championship in the discipline is held in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. A competition that will see, for the first time, 32 teams in the running.
Double reigning Olympic champion, France approaches this meeting with strong ambitions. If she shone at the Olympic Games, the Euro (crowned in 2015) or in the League of Nations (2022, 2024), the Earvin NgaPeth band has never done better than fourth place (in 2014) during a World Cup. This is undoubtedly their last possibility … France, it has not mounted on the podium of a World Cup since 3rd place in 2002 in Argentina. Overview of this competition.
Blues in search of a podium
It is the only international charm that is missing on the hunting board of the golden generation of earvin ngapeth (back in the final group for the World Cup after having missed all summer to heal itself from a knee tendinopathy), Benjamin Toniutti, Jenia Grebennikov or Nicolas Le Goff. The last four survivors of the European title in 2015. A year after the coronation at the Paris Games The Blues therefore met for this tournament to fill this lack.
Placed in a hen C they will face the Republic of Korea, Finland and Argentina. If the qualification for the round of 16 seems to be accessible (you have to finish in one of the first two places) the situation will be complicated seriously then since the players of Andrea Giani will cross with group F, that of Italy (title holder) and Belgium, in 8th and quarter. They could also find the formidable Polish or Japan of Laurent Tillie in half.
“It’s hard to hide after winning the games twice,” says Central Nicolas Le Goff. We are also a little revenge after this slightly disappointing VNL (Ligue of Nations) (eliminated in quarters). We came to get this world medal that we are missing. “” We got into a category of teams where a beautiful course is no longer enough, “continues Yacine Louati. If we don’t have a medal it will still remain a failure. »»
Who are the favorites?
As during the Paris Games last summer “six or seven teams can target the title” according to Nicolas Le Goff. Double Olympic champion in reigning, France is obviously part of it, but it will not be the only contender. Winner at the VNL this summer and regularly present on an international podium since its world title in 2014, Poland will aim for a new coronation. Title holder, Italy seems to be part to achieve the double. The United States, Brazil, Slovenia or Japan will also be among the teams to watch.
“Japan is a formidable team especially in the Philippines where they have an important fan base,” warns Louati. But we know that a World Cup is a raised competition and that there are many teams that can get the gold medal. »»
MEN’S WORLD CHAMPS: MEET TEAM FRANCE 🇫🇷
The reigning Olympic 🥇 and #VNL champions are back — and hungry for more! 💥
France has conquered the biggest stages, but one trophy still eludes them: the World Championship. Will 2025 in the Philippines 🇵🇭 be their year? 👀
Their… pic.twitter.com/CVrBCTZJWu
— Volleyball World (@volleyballworld) September 9, 2025
The competition formula
Inflation also wins the world of volleyball. For the first time in its history, the World Cup will be disputed with 32 nations, eight more than in the last editions. The teams are distributed in eight hens of four. The first two are qualified for the round of 16. The 1st of a hen will face the 2nd of another.
Small feature of the competition regulations, two teams that were in the same group could find themselves in the quarter -finals. For example, group C, that of France, will meet with group F in eighth and quarter. If two teams in group C win their 8th, they will therefore compete in quarters.
The Blues program
1st day : France – South Korea (September 14, 12 hours, French time)
2nd day : France – Finland (September 16, 12 p.m.)
3rd day : France – Argentina (September 18, 12 noon)
The 14 selected French
Smugglers : Benjamin Toniutti (Jastrzebski/Pol, Cap), Antoine Brizard (Osaka Blueton/JPN)
Receptions-attackers : Trévor Clévenot (Ziraat Bankort Ankara/Tur), Yacine Louati (Rzetor/Pol), Mathis Henno (Gorzow/Pol), Earvin Ngapeth (Fenerbahçe/Tur)
Pointed : Théo Faure (Trentino/Ita), Jean Patry (Galatasaray/Tur)
Central : Nicolas Le Goff (Montpellier), François Huetz (Paris), Barthélémy Chinenyeze (Fenerbahçe/Tur), Quentin Jouffroy (Montpellier)
Liber : Jenia Greemony.
How to follow the Blues’ matches?
All the matches of the French team, during the hens and then possibly final phases in the event of qualification, will be broadcast live on the team, on TNT channel 21. Two quarter-finals (September 24 and 25), the semi-finals (September 27) and the final (September 28) will also be offered.
Fans will also be able to follow the journey of all the World Cup teams on VBTV, the International Federation Web channel.
