Italy cemented their status as volleyball royalty on Sunday, September 28, claiming their second consecutive FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship title with a commanding 3-1 victory over Bulgaria at the packed Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. The triumph marks Italy's fifth world championship overall, adding to their legacy with previous titles in 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2022.

Playing before an electric crowd of 15,682 spectators, the Azzurri delivered a clinical performance, taking the match 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10. The Italian squad showcased their dominance with a staggering 13 aces compared to Bulgaria's four, while also outperforming their opponents in kill blocks 10-4 and spike kills 46-43.

Yuri Romano led the Italian charge with an exceptional 22-point performance, displaying remarkable consistency with a 70% attack success rate. His five aces were instrumental in breaking down the Bulgarian defense throughout the match. Mattia Bottolo proved equally devastating, contributing 19 points with an impressive seven aces and two kill blocks to complement his 10 offensive points. Alessandro Michieletto added 11 points to the winning effort, while veteran Simone Anzani had the honor of scoring the championship-clinching point.

Despite the loss, Bulgaria's Aleksandar Nikolov put on a heroic display, leading all scorers with 23 points and finishing the tournament with a remarkable 173 total points. The Bulgarian captain maintained a 58% spike success rate throughout the final, demonstrating why he was one of the tournament's standout performers. Martin Atanasov supported with 11 points, including two aces and one block, while maintaining a 62% offensive success rate.

The match saw Bulgaria mount a spirited comeback in the third set, with Asparuh Asparuhov closing it out 25-17 to keep their championship hopes alive. However, Italy responded emphatically in the fourth set, unleashing a dominant 25-10 performance that left no doubt about the outcome.

For Bulgaria, the silver medal represents their best World Championship finish since 1970, when they claimed their only previous medal in the competition. The result marks a significant achievement for the Bulgarian volleyball program and signals their return to elite international competition.

Italy's back-to-back championships underscore their dominance in men's volleyball, joining an elite group of nations to successfully defend a world title. The victory caps off a tournament that featured 32 teams competing across the Philippines from September 12-28, the first edition under the new two-year cycle format. With this performance, Italy has firmly established themselves as the team to beat heading into future international competitions.