TEHRAN – Volleyball expert Mahmoud Afshardoust lauded the Iranian team for winning the title at the FIVB Men's U21 World Championship 2025, saying the team have the potential to shine in the future.

The Iranian team won the title for the second consecutive time, finishing with nine straight victories in the championship held in China.

Previously, in Bahrain, the team claimed the title with a 3-2 win over Italy; this year they defended the title more decisively with a 3-1 victory over Italy in the final.

“To win world gold for the second consecutive time is a very auspicious achievement, and the entire Iranian volleyball family is joyful. The team’s progress throughout the tournament reflects five months of continuous training and well-designed practice,” Afshardoust said in an exclusive interview with Tehran Times.

“Our team performed well across all aspects: serving, receiving, attacking, and especially blocking. Four Iranian players were selected for the Dream Team, which indicates how strong we are. Furthermore, the tournament’s best player was an Iranian. Our players showed high solidarity both on the court and on the bench,” he concluded.