MANILA, Philippines — Italy maintained its title in the FIVB Men's World Championship by defeating a young Bulgarian team in four sets, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, and 25-10, demonstrating its dominance on the volleyball scene once more. A tournament-high 16,429 spectators attended the match, providing a perfect setting for a night that solidified the Azzurri's dominance.

Less than a day after defeating World No. 1 Poland in the semifinal, Yuri Romano, who has been a constant presence throughout Italy's campaign, stepped up once more, scoring 22 points with 16 strong kills, five service aces, and a block. He broke the match up at 23-16 with five consecutive aces in the second set, showcasing his incredible skill. Italy quickly took a 2-0 lead thanks to a powerful spike from Simone Anzani and an ace from Mattia Bottolo to seal the session.

“Great game, we played very good. Very very happy this back-to-back (championships),” said Romano. “It was beautiful as this one, it’s always beautiful to win a championship.”

Bulgaria gained some impetus in the third set after Italy's momentary lapse, but the Azzurri quickly regained control. They immediately put an end to any chances of a comeback in the fourth, taking a 17–9 lead thanks to a string of points from Mattia Bottolo.

Then, with four scorching aces to propel Italy to championship point at 24-10, Bottolo put the focus squarely on himself. The contest was sealed and Italy's dominance was reaffirmed moments later when Simone Anzani scored the game-winning goal. Alessandro Michieletto contributed 11 points and was named MVP, while Bottolo finished the game with an incredible 19 points, supported by seven aces.

Simone Giannelli, whose brilliant orchestration at setter led Italy to its sixth world championship, was at the center of it all. In addition to defending their crown, the Azzurri's victory marked the beginning of a new dynasty, which had started in 2022 when they overcame a 24-year championship drought.

“The important thing is to get the gold. I’m very happy because this summer we reached two medals in VNL and the World Championship. I can say we are the best team in the world,” said Michieletto

“Today we played all good, like Yuri and Mattia. I’m very happy because two times in a row it’s very difficult to win a World Championship against incredible teams. I think that we played better against Poland than today, but okay, it’s no problem.”

Italy's ascent to fame wasn't without its problems. With a 2-1 record, the Azzurri finished second in Pool F; their only loss came against Belgium in a taxing five-set match. However, their resolve increased as the stakes increased. They shocked World No. 1 Poland to earn a place to their second straight final after eliminating Argentina in the round of 16, exacting revenge on Belgium in the quarterfinals.

The trip was equally impressive for Bulgaria. With the help of brothers Aleksandar and Moni Nikolov's creative play, the young team put on a heart-wrenching run. With six consecutive victories, they advanced to the gold-medal match and won the country's first silver medal since 1970. Even though Italy put a stop to their dream comeback, the campaign served as a clear indication of Bulgaria's growing influence in volleyball worldwide.

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