Italy Defeats Vargas-Led Turkey to Claim 2025 volleyball World Cup Title
POLAND – Italy emerged victorious at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, defeating Turkey in a thrilling final match. despite a relentless offensive performance by Cuban-born Melissa Vargas, who plays for Turkey, Italy secured the championship title, marking a notable achievement for the European powerhouse.
Vargas, widely considered one of the sport’s rising stars, delivered a powerful performance throughout the tournament, earning a place on the Dream team. Mireya Luis, a legendary figure in cuban volleyball adn now a director with the FIVB, noted Vargas’s play in Paris reminded her of her own during her prime. “He reminds me of what I was doing,” Luis told OnCubaNews. Despite now representing Turkey, Luis emphasized Vargas’s roots: “that its origin is the Cuban School of Volleyball and its lineage is that of a Morena of the Caribbean,” referencing the nickname for successful cuban generations coached by Eugenio George.
The tournament also saw Brazil secure the bronze medal,defeating Japan 3-2,placing a Latin American team on the podium. Cuba, currently undergoing a period of rebuilding, achieved a notable victory over Slovakia (3-1) – their first win in a World Cup in 14 years – but did not advance beyond the group stage. The appointment of Brazilian coach Luizomar Moura, facilitated by an agreement with the FIVB, has instilled renewed optimism among Cuban volleyball fans.
