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The stage is set for the grand finale of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball World Championship, with Bulgaria facing Italy in what promises to be a thrilling showdown on Sunday. For Bulgaria, it’s a chance to write history by lifting their first-ever world title. For Italy, it’s an opportunity to cement their dominance with back-to-back championships.
Italy enter as clear favorites, having beaten Bulgaria in each of their last nine encounters, but the Lions’ resurgence this year has defied expectations and fueled belief that an upset could be on the cards.
Bulgaria’s Road to the Final
Bulgaria began the tournament as outsiders, seeded 19th overall and drawn into a challenging Pool E. Few expected them to progress, but they stunned critics by winning all three group-stage matches, including impressive victories over higher-ranked Slovenia and Germany.
Momentum carried them through the knockout rounds. They defeated Portugal in the round of 16 and then toppled Team USA in the quarter-finals. Their semi-final clash with the Czech Republic showcased both resilience and firepower, as they prevailed 3-1 despite constant pressure from their opponents.
A key figure in their campaign has been Aleksandar Nikolov, the 21-year-old outside hitter who has emerged as the competition’s star. His extraordinary 31-point display in the semi-final, featuring 27 kills, underlined why he is now the tournament’s top scorer with 150 points—well ahead of his rivals. Meanwhile, captain Aleks Grozdanov has dominated defensively, registering a tournament-high 17 kill blocks.
The last time Bulgaria defeated Italy dates back to the 2015 European Games, adding even more weight to Sunday’s challenge.
Italy’s Quest for Back-to-Back Titles
Italy entered the championship as the fifth seed but faced early turbulence with a surprising 3-2 group-stage loss to Belgium. Far from derailing their campaign, however, that setback sparked a turnaround. Since then, Gli Azzurri have been flawless.
They swept Ukraine to close the group stage and stormed through the knockouts, eliminating Argentina and Belgium’s Red Dragons without conceding a set. Their most emphatic performance came in the semi-final, where they dismantled world number one Poland in straight sets, reasserting their dominance on the global stage.
Italy’s strength lies in their depth. Three of their players rank inside the tournament’s top 15 scorers. Alessandro Michieletto leads with 82 points, combining kills, blocks, and aces with ruthless efficiency. Semi-final standout Yuri Romano added 15 points against Poland to bring his tally to 66, while others like Daniele Lavia continue to provide crucial support.
With four World Championship titles already under their belt, Italy now aim to secure a fifth crown and match Poland’s achievement of consecutive championships in 2014 and 2018.
Key Stats & Head-to-Head
- Bulgaria remain unbeaten in this year’s tournament.
- Italy suffered one loss (to Belgium) in the group stage.
- Aleksandar Nikolov leads all scorers with 150 points.
- Four of Bulgaria’s five matches have gone over 150.5 points.
- 12 of the last 14 meetings between these nations have also crossed the 150.5 threshold.
- Italy have won nine straight games against Bulgaria since 2015.
Prediction: Bulgaria vs Italy
Italy’s semi-final victory over Poland showed they are operating at peak form, and their depth across attack and defense makes them strong favorites to lift the trophy again. That said, Bulgaria’s fairytale run and Nikolov’s brilliance suggest they won’t go down without a fight.
A straight-set win seems unlikely given the competitive history between these teams. Instead, expect a tense, extended match with momentum swings and high-scoring sets.
This final promises drama, intensity, and flashes of brilliance—everything a world championship decider should deliver.
Prediction: Over 150.5 total points
Likely Scoreline: Italy 3-1 Bulgaria
