It was a day of redemption at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, as both Ukraine and Iran bounced back with crucial victories to stay in contention for the playoffs.
In Quezon City, Ukraine delivered a dominant performance, sweeping Algeria in straight sets (25-17, 25-12, 25-11). From the very first serve, the Ukrainians took control with aggressive serving and rock-solid defense at the net. Dmytro Yanchuk led the charge with 18 points, backed by Vasyl Tupchii with 12 and team captain Yurii Semeniuk adding 11. Algeria, despite a nine-point effort from Sidi Mohamed Dour, struggled to gain any momentum and remain winless in Pool F.
Meanwhile, in Pasay City, Iran overcame a shaky start to power past Tunisia in four sets (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-16). Morteza Sharifi was a standout with 18 points, including five aces, while Poriya Khanzadeh topped all scorers with 21 points. Tunisia put up a strong fight, with Oussama Ben Romdhane and Ali Bongui contributing 14 points apiece, but ultimately couldn’t match Iran’s late-match intensity.
With both teams now holding 1-1 records, Ukraine and Iran remain firmly in the playoff race.
