Canada will attempt to surpass its best-ever finish at the Women's Volleyball World Championship when it makes its 11th appearance at the event in Thailand in 2025. Following a breakthrough into the top 10 in 2022 and steady progress in international competitions in recent years, the team arrives with greater squad depth, accumulated experience, and increased self-confidence.
Group E Schedule
Canada will play in Group E alongside Turkey, Bulgaria, and Spain, with all matches taking place in Nakhon Ratchasima.
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| August 23 | Canada – Bulgaria |
| August 25 | Canada – Spain |
| August 27 | Canada – Turkey |
Interestingly, just two months before the World Championship, the two teams – Canada and Bulgaria – met in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League in Ottawa. On June 4, the Canadians won 3–2 (25–18, 25–12, 23–25, 19–25, 15–4) after a strong tie-break in which they showed complete dominance. This gives the North Americans a psychological advantage, but also highlights that the Bulgarians can seriously challenge them.
Support and Development through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Program
The development of Canadian women's volleyball in recent years has been strongly supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. In 2025, the federation receives targeted coaching support worth US$310,000 – for the appointment of a world-class coach and the expansion of services for players before major tournaments.
It is interesting that Bulgaria is also among the countries that have benefited from this program – with a total of CHF 218,500 for five projects, including CHF 72,000 for the appointment of Italian specialist Lorenzo Micelli.
Results and Progress in Recent Years
In 2023 and 2024, Canada finished 10th in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), building on its debut in 2021. In the Olympic qualifiers for Paris 2024, Canada finished third in its group, with only the top two teams qualifying for the Games. Thus, the "Maple Leafs" remained outside the Olympics but recorded their strongest performance in qualification attempts since 1996.
New Coach – New Era
In January 2025, Giovanni Guidetti – one of the most respected coaches in world volleyball – took over as head coach of the team, replacing Shannon Winzer, who transitioned to the role of High Performance Director. Under his leadership, Canada aims to refine its style and raise its level of play.
Key figures and new additions
Veterans Emily Maglio and Jazmine White bring stability and strength to the net, while Andrea Mitrovic provides points and flexibility from reception. In VNL matches, Guidetti also rotates new players to rest key figures and expand the squad before the World Championship. Under Guidetti's leadership, opposite Kiera Van Ryk also found a place in the squad – his player at VakıfBank, where the Italian specialist is head coach. The Canadian established herself as one of the most prolific attackers for the Turkish powerhouse.
Regional dominance
In the NORCECA zone, Canada regularly competes for medals at the Pan American Cup and the Continental Championship. This shows that the team is closing the gap with traditional leaders and becoming an increasingly dangerous opponent on the world stage.
With a stable squad, strong support, and one of the best coaches in the world, Canada arrives in Thailand with a clear goal – to build upon their past achievements. And the match against Bulgaria will be a kind of rematch and test for both teams.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
