On September 22 – one of the most sacred days in Bulgarian history, Independence Day – the Bulgarian men's national volleyball team will play in a decisive Round of 16 match at the Men's World Volleyball Championship in the Philippines. Their opponent is Portugal – one of the pleasant surprises of the tournament.
The match in Pasay City starts at 10:30 AM Bulgarian time and carries additional symbolism for the "Lions," who will fight for a spot among the world's top eight exactly on the date Bulgaria celebrates its state independence.
Bulgaria – Undefeated and Ambitious
Bulgaria arrived at the championship ranked 15th in the world, but after their impressive performance in Group E, they now hold 13th position. Our boys shocked Germany with a decisive 3:0 win, overturned Slovenia after a five-set thriller, and finished convincingly against Chile.
The young star Aleksandar Nikolov left the strongest impression. The 21-year-old outside hitter was the leader in attacks (63 successful) and second in total points scored (71) throughout the entire group stage.
| Bulgaria – Group Stage Performance | Result |
|---|---|
| Bulgaria – Germany | 3:0 |
| Bulgaria – Slovenia | 3:2 |
| Bulgaria – Chile | 3:0 |
The clear victories and match control show that Bulgaria managed to shed its underdog role. The team plays freely, with aggressive serves and stable defense, and Alex Nikolov has become the true leader of the team.
Portugal – The Tournament's Hidden Gem
Portugal's best finish at a World Championship was eighth place in 2002, but in the current edition, they are once again among the sensations. A victory over Cuba (3:1) and a comeback against Colombia (3:2) after being down 0:2 sets, led them to second place in Group D. Their only loss came from the USA.
Their top scorer is 22-year-old outside hitter Nuno Marques, who finished the group stage with 46 points. The Portuguese advanced seven places in the world rankings – from No. 29 to No. 22.
| Portugal – Group Stage Performance | Result |
|---|---|
| Portugal – Cuba | 3:1 |
| Portugal – USA | 0:3 |
| Portugal – Colombia | 3:2 |
The team shows a fighting spirit and an ability to make comebacks, which makes them an inconvenient opponent. Portugal's strength lies in their collective play and unpredictable attack.
Historical rivalry
The two teams have not met since 2019. Back then, Portugal achieved a surprising victory in the Volleyball Nations League (3:1), but Bulgaria later got their revenge at the European Championship with the same result. The balance between the two teams adds extra intrigue to the upcoming match.
The other Round of 16 match: USA – Slovenia
The second match on Monday's program pits USA against Slovenia – two teams from the world elite. The match starts at3:00 PM Bulgarian timeThe Americans are looking for another strong performance after their championship title in 1986 and bronze medals from 1994 and 2018, while the Slovenians will try to at least repeat their fourth-place finish from 2022.
Program for September 22, 2025 – Pasay City (Bulgarian time)
| Time | Match |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | Bulgaria – Portugal |
| 15:00 | USA – Slovenia |
Bulgaria will play its Round of 16 match at a convenient time for local fans – exactly at 10:30 AM on September 22, Independence Day. This makes the holiday even more emotional and suitable for strong support from viewers at home.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
