Vietnam U21 women’s volleyball team stripped of round of 16 at world championship due to FIVB eligibility ruling

Hanoi. 13 August, 2025 – Vietnam’s U21 women’s volleyball team has been dealt a major blow at the 2025 U21 Women’s World Championship after being stripped of their place in the Round of 16 following a ruling by the tournament organizers.

The team had initially impressed in the group stage, winning four out of five matches and securing second place in Group A. Under the original bracket, this performance would have seen them advance to the Round of 16 to face Turkey, who finished third in Group C.

However, late on August 12, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced that one Vietnam player had been deemed ineligible to compete in the tournament but had still featured in the team’s first four matches. As a result, those four matches were forfeited, with Vietnam recorded as losing 0-3 in each.

The only match result that stands is the final group game against Puerto Rico, in which the ineligible player did not take part. Vietnam won that match 3-1, but with the earlier results voided, their record dropped to one win and four losses, placing them sixth in Group A. This means they will no longer compete in the knockout rounds and will instead face Egypt in the classification stage for positions 17 to 24.

Prior to this announcement, the Vietnam Volleyball Federation had confirmed that players Dang Thi Hong and Nguyen Phuong Quynh were not registered to play in the final group match against Puerto Rico due to paperwork issues. Both players were seen in the stands supporting their teammates during the game.

The FIVB decision comes as a huge disappointment for the Vietnamese squad, who had been one of the standout performers in the early rounds of the competition. The ruling effectively ends their campaign for a high placement and shifts their focus to playing for ranking positions rather than medals.

This setback also highlights the critical importance of ensuring all eligibility and registration documents are fully compliant before and during international tournaments, as even administrative oversights can have devastating competitive consequences.

Thuy Linh