Tomorrow, September 12, 2025, the Men's Volleyball World Championship kicks off in the Philippines. The opening match ofGroup Awill pit hosts Philippines against Tunisia. The match is scheduled for 2:00 PM Bulgarian time (7:00 PM local time) in the capital Manila.

A special highlight of the encounter is the fact that the coach of the Africans is the well-known in Bulgaria Camillo Placi – a former national coach of Bulgaria, who has been leading Tunisia since this year.

Team Profiles

Tunisia

• World Ranking (FIVB):43rd

• First World Championship appearance:1962

• Total appearances:12 (seventh consecutive)

• Best placement:15th place (2006)

• Head Coach:Camillo Placi (Italy) – at the helm since 2025

• Key Players:

  • Hamza Naga – opposite hitter, main attacking force

  • Khaled Ben Slimane – setter

  • Ilyes Karamosli – outside hitter

  • Ahmed Kadhi and Selim Mbareki middle blockers, with experience from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Philippines

• World Ranking (FIVB):82nd

• First World Championship appearance:2025 (debut)

• Qualification:as host

• Head Coach:Angiolino Frigoni (Italy), appointed in 2024

• Key Players:

  • Mark Espejo captain, outside hitter

  • Bryan Bagunas outside hitter

  • Kim Malabunga middle blocker

This match will behistoricfor the hosts, who will step onto the world stage for the first time. On the other side, Tunisia will rely on the experience and international schooling of Camillo Placi, as the Africans have a much richer history in the tournament.

The draw placed them in a tough group, but the opening match itself can give momentum to both teams for the remainder of the group stage.