AVC Girls’ U18 Championship:
Iran pitted against Japan, Philippines, Indonesia in pool phase
Iran has been drawn against Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia in Pool C of the upcoming AVC Girls’ U18 Volleyball Championship, which will begin on July 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The draw for the 16th edition of the tournament was held on Saturday, with 16 teams split into four groups.
Iran will make its ninth successive appearance at the continental showpiece, with its best result coming in the previous edition in 2024, when the Iranian girls progressed to the main-round group stage before settling for sixth place in Thailand.
The Iranian side faced both the Philippines and Japan in the 2024 preliminary group stage, defeating the Filipinos in straight sets but falling to Japan – the most decorated team in the competition with nine titles – by the same scoreline.
Elsewhere in Saturday’s draw, host Thailand was handed tests against Uzbekistan, Australia, and Mongolia in Pool A, while five-time champion China – which beat Japan in the 2024 final – will begin its title defense against Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and Kyrgyzstan in Pool B.
Chinese Taipei, the bronze medalist in 2024, is joined by South Korea, India, and Vietnam in Pool D.
The four semifinalists in Nakhon Ratchasima will qualify for the 2027 FIVB Girls’ U19 World Championship.