The final round of the men’s division in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League is all set, as eight teams have booked their tickets to Ningbo, China. As the hosts, China have qualified despite finishing 17th in the standings with a 3-9 record, and Brazil, Italy, France, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, and Cuba will join them.
Brazil (11-1) and Italy (10-2) were the only teams to reach double-digit wins, while defending champions France are right behind them at 8-4, level with Japan and Poland. Slovenia are sixth at 7-5, while Cuba clinched the final berth despite being level with Iran, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the United States, and Argentina at 6-6.
Elsewhere, the Netherlands are relegated after they had the worst record at 1-11. According to the Volleyball Nations League 2025 odds, France will face stiff competition and may struggle to defend their crown.
Here are some of the latest Volleyball Nations League 2025 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Japan eliminate the United States to clinch berth
After an up-and-down Week 2, Japan finished strong in Week 3 to clinch the fourth seed in the final round with an 8-4 record and 23 points. They won three of their last four preliminary matches, including a 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23) shutout of the Americans last Sunday. This result also sent the United States packing, as they finished 10th on a 6-6 slate with 17 points.
Japan gave their fans in Chiba Port Arena something to write about, as Ran Takahashi was on fire. The star outside hitter contributed a match-high 18 points, including the back-row game winner. He hit 16 points at a 59% kill success rate and added two blocks.
He had support from opposite Kento Miyaura, who recorded 13 points (10 kills, three aces). Miyaura has been Japan’s most productive player in this tournament, accumulating a team-high 184 points (162 kills, five blocks, 17 aces), good for eighth in the competition’s scoring charts.
The United States put up a valiant stand in the final set, but it wasn’t meant to be. Outside Jordan Ewert led the Americans with 13 points at a 68% kill success rate. Opposite Gabriel Garcia added 10 points (eight kills, two aces) in the losing effort.
China end their campaign with a win
China broke their eight-game losing streak at the expense of Cuba, as they secured a 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 15-25, 25-22, 19-17) win at the Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland, giving them some momentum ahead of the final round, which will be held in Beilun Gymnasium at Ningbo, China.
“China did a great job today,” Cuba star outside Jose Masso Alvarez said. “They fought for every point, all the time. We didn’t push enough to win the game. We fought, but I think we need to be better at this as well, as sometimes we don’t do enough.”
Wang Bin was key in the Chinese victory, as the 24-year-old outside hitter contributed 26 points (24 kills, one block, one ace). Opposite and team captain Jiang Chuan tallied 13 points (10 kills, two blocks, one ace).
Marlon Yant led all scorers with 31 points (29 kills, two blocks), as he left it all on the court for the Cubans. Team captain and outside hitter Miguel Angel Lopez registered 17 points (14 kills, two blocks, one ace) in the losing cause.
This defeat almost cost Cuba a spot in the final round after they dropped to 6-6. Cuba anxiously watched the other results, as they didn’t control their fate. However, they eventually booked their tickets to Ningbo, China, after Slovenia defeated Serbia, Bulgaria lost to Iran, and Ukraine lost to Canada on the final matchday.
Poland beat France in semi-finals rematch
The biggest match in Pool 7 was the one between France and Poland last Sunday. In what was last year’s semi-finals rematch, it was former champions Poland who won 3-2 (32-30, 20-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12) to give themselves momentum heading into the final round.
Backed by over 10,000 fans in Gdansk, Poland got a measure of revenge for their defeat in the French capital 11 months ago to finish fifth in the standings with an 8-4 record. Wilfredo Leon led the Poles with 30 points (24 kills, three blocks, and three aces). He engaged in a shootout with Theo Faure, who had 28 points (25 kills, two aces, one block) for France.
Besides Leon, Poland also saw productive performances from Kewin Sasak, who had 14 points (11 kills, two blocks, one ace), Jakub Kochanowski, Jakub Novak, and Tomasz Fornal, who added 10 points apiece.
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