As expected, Japan and Iran qualified for the final of the Men's Asian Championship in Fukuoka and will face each other tomorrow in a direct clash for the title and the grand prize – a quota for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The continental champion receives the direct spot for the Olympic tournament.
In the first semifinal, Iran defeated Australia 3:1 (25:21, 17:25, 25:17, 25:22). The Australians managed to equalize after a strong second set, but Iran regained control of the match and won the next two sets. The victory also brought 2.52 points to the Iranians for the world ranking, with which the team climbed to 17th place with 218.40 points.
Iran reached the semifinal after a 3:1 (25:19, 25:19, 21:25, 25:18) win against Chinese Taipei just a day earlier. This was a detail that Japanese media paid special attention to. Coach Roberto Piazza sharply criticized the schedule, as his team had to play a quarterfinal, semifinal, and a potential final on three consecutive days. The Italian even described the situation as "crazy." Against Chinese Taipei, he tried to rest some of his key players, but after losing the third set, he had to bring back the starters.

In the second semifinal, Japan left practically no chances for the Republic of Korea – 3:0 (25:13, 25:11, 25:14). The hosts allowed a total of only 38 points in the three sets and continued undefeated towards the decisive match for the Olympic quota. The success added 1.95 points to Japan's tally in the world ranking, where the team remains No. 6 with 338.31 points.
Even before the semifinal, Japanese media placed the match against the Republic of Korea entirely in the context of the battle for Los Angeles. Japan had won its four previous matches in the tournament, including the quarterfinal against India with 3:0 (25:17, 25:15, 25:19). Captain Yuki Ishikawa emphasized before the semifinal that the Republic of Korea is a team with a similar defensive game to Japan's and that the key is for Japan to continue attacking aggressively regardless of the situation on the court.
Thus, on September 13, Fukuoka will host the final that seemed most logical even before the decisive phase – Japan vs. Iran. The stakes are much higher than the Asian title: the winner guarantees participation in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. In addition, the top three teams in the championship receive spots for the 2027 World Cup in Poland.
For Japan, the final also has great significance for the world ranking. The hosts are No. 6 in the world, and this is precisely the position we are closely monitoring in the long-term battle for Olympic quotas through the ranking. The victory over the Republic of Korea brought a relatively modest 1.95 points due to the large difference between the two teams in the ranking. Iran, on the other hand, moved to 17th place after their win over Australia.
Final – September 13:Japan – Iran
Third-place match – September 13:Republic of Korea – Australia

photos: volleyballworld.com