Egypt opened their FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship campaign with a commanding win over Iran, while Belgium overpowered Ukraine, and Czechia defeated Serbia to complete a strong day for nations supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme.
Egypt set the tone with a 3-1 victory (25-17, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines. Guided by Marco Bonitta, the Italian coach who led his country’s women to a world title in 2002, the North Africans showed how experience and experienced coaching are transforming their play. Ahmed Shafik A.Said top scored with 18 points, with Abdelrahman Elhossiny Eissa adding 17, as Egypt recovered quickly from losing the second set to finish the match with composure.
Bonitta’s leadership has been a key piece of Egypt’s Empowerment journey, bringing a proven track record to a team aiming to step higher in world competition. The victory over Iran highlighted the team’s growing ability to handle momentum swings and execute under pressure – qualities that Egypt had been seeking to sharpen with the support they now receive.
Belgium, meanwhile, stunned higher-ranked Ukraine in straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-22) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Entering the tournament ahead of their first season in the Volleyball Nations League, the Belgians showed poise beyond their limited exposure at this level. They delivered across all areas, with 40 attacks, 10 blocks and six aces, while limiting themselves to just 15 errors in three sets.
Their defence proved decisive. With 62 digs, Belgium consistently disrupted Ukraine’s rhythm and converted stops into points in transition. That balance of skill and discipline reflected the impact of Empowerment support, which has given the team the tools and preparation to face stronger opponents and seize opportunities on the world stage.
Opposite Ferre Reggers led the way with 23 points on 20 kills and three aces, supported by Seppe Rotty with 13 and captain Sam Deroo with 12, including nine spikes and three blocks. After the match, Reggers said the win was the result of months of effort. “It’s a crazy game. We worked the whole summer for this game. We did it at the right moment, and we did it with the right attitude, energy, focus and preparation.”
Captain Sam Deroo placed the performance in a wider context, pointing to the promise of the squad’s youth. “We have a very young team and only three players are from the 90s. It’s good for the future. Next year we play the VNL. This is just the start for the new generation of the Belgian national team, and I am just going to hop on the wagon for a little bit longer,” he said.
Czechia added to the day’s surprises with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-20) victory over Serbia at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Opposite Patrik Indra led with 14 points, while outside hitters Lukas Vasina and Jan Galabov chipped in 13 and nine respectively to keep the team’s offence balanced.
The Czechs were steady in all phases, finishing with 45 attacks and keeping Serbia under pressure in the closing stages of each set. Their blocking and serve came up at key moments, and their composure down the stretch prevented Serbia from forcing longer rallies. For coach Jiri Novak’s side, the result was a clear sign of intent, beating one of Europe’s most experienced teams in straight sets to take early control of Pool H.
For Egypt, Belgium and Czechia, the victories went beyond the scoreline. They showed how Volleyball Empowerment is helping these nations compete with stronger rivals and turn support into results on the court.
