The country’s historic hosting of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship ended with a bang on Sunday with Italy overcoming Bulgaria in front of a mammoth crowd estimated to reach about 15,000 fans. But just as the curtains closed on one historic hosting, another was officially announced: the Philippines will be hosting the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in 2029.
FIVB president Fabio Azevedo delivered the exciting news, also on Sunday, during the post-match presser at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Hosting the Volleyball Women’s World Championship 2029 in the Philippines is an opportunity to again showcase not only the very best of volleyball but also the positive impact our sport has on society,’’ said Azevedo.
Philippine Sports Commission chair Pato Gregorio, who is spearheading a multiyear program aimed at establishing the Philippines “at the heart of volleyball’s growth,” expects the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship 2029 to also mark a “historic blueprint for Philippine sports development overall.”
PNVF Needs to Do Better for FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship 2029
This announcement is certainly big news for the Philippines and its growing volleyball community—and Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) chief Tats Suzara is naturally excited.
“We are determined to carry forward the momentum of the World Championship 2025 and channel it into something lasting for our athletes, our fans, and our nation. It is also an honor to see the sport that I love contribute meaningfully to my nation’s sports and tourism agenda,’’ Suzara said in the same presser.
Now, it will be up to him and the PNVF to make sure the country does an even better job at hosting the distaff version of volleyball’s most prestigious tilt. The PNVF’s hosting of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2025 was generally good and praised by many, including the visiting teams themselves and the FIVB. But it was also marked by exorbitantly priced tickets, near-empty venues (save for matches that featured Alas Pilipinas and crowd favorites Japan and the USA, and the final), harsh criticism from pundits and a lawmaker, and the controversial rescinding of the media credentials of a respected sports media outlet.
These are all very legitimate yet fixable pain points if Suzara and the PNVF will humble themselves, acknowledge there’s plenty of room for improvement, and resolve to be better for the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in 2029.
The beauty of it is that they can do that; whether they will remains to be seen. But if the PNVF is one with the PSC in making the Philippines the heart of volleyball’s growth, then they better do so.
