FIVB president Ari Graça (second from left) makes the announcement with (from left) Volleyball World Chief Executive Officer Finn Taylor, Senator Pia Cayetano, Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara and Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Bernard Faustino La Madrid Dy. Handout/PNVF
MANILA -- The Philippines will host the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship, where 32 countries are set to compete.
The FIVB awarded hosting rights to the Philippines on Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland, with president Ari Graça hailing that the country "will write history again."
"For the first time ever, the Philippines will host the prestigious FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in 2025," Graça said. "In an open bidding process, you have overcome many strong bidders to win this race."
"I am sure you will extend your warm hospitality to all 32 participating men’s teams and the many thousands of international fans who will come to your country in 2025."
READ: PH formalizes bid to host FIVB World Men's Championship 2025
The world championships are scheduled for September 12-28, 2025.
"I am ready to accept the responsibility and the privilege for the Philippines to host the Men’s World Championship in 2025," Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon "Tats" Suzara said in a statement.
"It shall definitely be a huge challenge, to mount the single-hosting model, to welcome 32 of the best teams in the world, the highest-ranking officials of the sport and most avid fans of the sport from every corner of the globe," he admitted.
But Suzara stressed that it is a challenge that the federation embraces, and vows that they will give participating teams "the best conditions in order for them to fully focus on the competition and the championship trophy and to make them feel at home right in our own home."
This marks the third time that the FIVB Men's World Championships will be hosted in Asia, after Japan hosted in 1998 and 2006. The past two editions have been co-hosted, with Italy and Bulgaria staging the 2018 edition and Poland and Slovenia putting up the 2022 tournament.
The Philippines' hosting of the Men's World Championships comes in the wake of its successful staging of the Volleyball Nations League in 2022 and 2023.
According to Suzara, they have secured "massive support" from the private sector and corporate partners, including Manny V. Pangilinan who has "committed to support volleyball" after spearheading the country's hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.