PH to bid for 2025 Women’s World Championship hosting

Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is set to bid for the hosting of the 2025 Women's Volleyball World Championship, according to the country's volleyball national sports association president Tats Suzara on Sunday, July 9.

If the Philippines gets to win the bid, the country will automatically qualify for the said event which will likely be held in August or September 2025.

Team USA PHOTO FROM VOLLEYBALL WORLD

“I'd like to officially announce from the PNVF side that we are bidding for the 2025 Women's World Championship and I'm going to Poland next week to attend the first meeting [for this bidding],” said Suzara in a press conference at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Philippines competes against four other countries in its bid to host the World Championships, namely: Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

“FIVB has invited us to the first meeting of the bidding in Poland during the VNL Men's finals. We are a strong contender and if we win the bid, we will have the 16 teams here in the Philippines and two other countries will co-host the group phase,” said Suzara.

“This is the first time that we will host a Women's World Championship or a world championship for volleyball. I remember the last time we qualified for the women's world championship was 1974.”

Suzara believes that the Philippines is a strong contender for the hosting of the Women's World Championships because of the huge fan turnout in the country's hosting of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) last year and this year.

“One of the biggest interests from Volleyball World and FIVB is the fans themselves. The fan turnout in the VNL here is what really prompted the FIVB to put up a world event here,” said Suzara.

“The VNL alone is a world event but the fans make them happy. It gives them enthusiasm.”

The potential national team for that World, which Suzara called the Philippines 'women's dream team' will be composed of collegiate players.

Suzara said that the federation has already talked to four universities and the schools are amenable to letting their student-athletes play for the national team.

“We had a meeting with the national team coaches and some university representatives and my objective is to have a university team so as not to interfere with the PVL schedule. Of course, we welcome them if they are ready to perform but the problem is their calendar. If I have collegiate UAAP-based players, this is the cooperation that will do.”

“I call it the 'women's dream team' for the world championship in 2025. I want them to focus, get big support for travelling from 2024 up to 2025.”