Latvia’s Kristians Fokerots in action, a returning champion vying for U21 glory.
The sands of Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, are abuzz with anticipation as the 2025 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships are officially set to commence. From Wednesday, October 15, to Sunday, October 19, over 90 dynamic pairs, representing 50 federations and all five continental confederations, will converge to compete for prestigious planetary honors. All this unfolds against the breathtaking and, one might add, occasionally dramatic backdrop of the Popocatépetl volcano, providing a suitably epic stage for these aspiring young talents.
The Road to Glory: Tournament Structure Unveiled
The competition is structured to challenge and reward consistency and grit. Wednesday marks the start with three rounds of qualifications, a high-stakes prelude designed to fill the remaining slots in the coveted 32-team main draw. Once the dust settles on the qualifying rounds, the main draw will kick off on Thursday. Each gender’s 32 pairs will be split into eight round-robin pools, an initial test of endurance and strategy.
From these pools, the victors will earn a direct ticket to the eighthfinals. The second and third-placed teams, however, will face an additional challenge: a sixteenthfinal round, a do-or-die opportunity to keep their championship dreams alive. Saturday is poised to be a marathon of elimination, hosting both the sixteenthfinals, eighthfinals, and quarterfinals. The crescendo of the tournament, the semifinals and medal matches, will culminate in a thrilling finale on Sunday, where new world champions will be crowned.
Champions Return: The Men`s Field
The men`s entry list is a veritable who`s who of rising stars, many of whom are no strangers to the taste of gold. Headlining this impressive roster are Latvia’s Gustavs Auzins & Kristians Fokerots. These accomplished athletes captured the U19 world title in 2022 and have since added U18 European (2022) and U20 European (2024) championships to their impressive resume. Fokerots, a mere 20 years old, already ranks number eight on the men’s FIVB Beach Volleyball World Ranking alongside his regular senior partner, Martins Plavins, proving that youth is no barrier to world-class performance.
Not to be outdone, Poland’s Jakub Krzeminski & Szymon Pietraszek, the reigning U19 world champions from 2024, are back and hungry for more. While they`ll begin their U21 journey in the qualifiers, a true champion isn`t afraid of a little extra sand. Iran`s AmirAli GhalehNovi, a bronze medalist at the 2024 U19 World Championships, teams up with Habib Naseri, aiming to elevate their standing. Other notable names with significant senior Beach Pro Tour experience include Switzerland’s Julian Friedli, Norway’s Even Stray Aas, and Brazil’s Henrique Camboim, all looking to make their mark.
The host nation`s hopes rest partly on Antonio Lares & Carlos Andres Ayala. After a strong fourth-place finish at last year`s U19 World Championship, they`ve had an excellent season on the senior NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, collecting four medals. Their recent performance at the Veracruz Challenge, where they orchestrated three major upsets en route to the eighthfinals, delighted local crowds and cemented their status as a team to watch. Their journey in Cholula also serves as a crucial stepping stone, as they prepare for next month`s senior FIVB World Championships in Adelaide.
Elite Aspirations: The Women`s Competition
On the women`s side, the talent pool is equally deep and competitive. Switzerland’s Leona Kernen is arguably the most recognized name, boasting a U21 World Championship bronze in 2021 and an upgraded silver in 2023. Now partnered with Muriel Bossart, with whom she has secured two golds and one silver at age-group European Championships, Kernen aims for that elusive top step of the podium. Her burgeoning career is further highlighted by being chosen by Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Tanja Huberli as her new teammate, with an eye on the Adelaide 2025 senior World Championships.
The women`s tournament also features several U19 World Championship medalists. Spain’s Sofia Izuzquiza, the 2024 U19 runner-up, will play alongside Adriana Serrano. USA’s Sally Perez and Sarah Wood, both 2024 U19 bronze medalists, will compete with new partners, Avery Jackson and Zoey Henson respectively, showcasing the dynamic nature of youth partnerships. Canada’s Ruby Sorra, a 2022 U19 bronze medalist, seeks to expand her collection with partner Ofure Odigie.
A pair of Czech twins, Anna Pavelkova & Katerina Pavelkova, are expected to be strong contenders. With four medals from age-group European Championships (including two golds) and three medals on the senior Beach Pro Tour this season alone, their experience is undeniable. Austria’s Lia Berger & Lilli Hohenauer, the 2024 U18 European champions and two-time continental U20 bronze medalists, are another formidable duo. France’s Saofe Duval & Romane Sobezalz, also two-time continental age-group bronze medalists, will vie for the title. Finally, Poland’s Julia Radelczuk, who claimed the U20 European crown in August, will compete for the U21 world title with new partner Natalia Okla.
A Legacy Continues: History of the U21 World Championships
This 2025 edition marks the 20th iteration of the junior World Championships in beach volleyball, a tournament that first served off in France back in 2001. Mexico proudly hosts the competition for the first time, adding its name to the short list of NORCECA territories that have welcomed this event, following Canada`s two successful stagings in 2011 and 2012.
Historically, Brazil has dominated the medal counts, boasting nine women`s and seven men`s titles. The prestige of this championship is undeniable, with its alumni list reading like a `who`s who` of beach volleyball legends. Notably, both the reigning Olympic champions in both genders – Sweden’s David Ahman & Jonatan Hellvig and Brazil’s Ana Patricia Ramos & Eduarda Santos Lisboa (Duda) – honed their skills and tasted early triumph as U21 world champions. The roster of past winners also includes other highly recognizable names such as Brazilians Taiana Lima, Juliana Silva, Carol Solberg, Barbara Seixas, Pedro Solberg, Bruno Schmidt, Gustavo Carvalhaes (Guto), George Wanderley, and Arthur Mariano Lanci; Swiss Nina Brunner, Joana Heidrich, and Anouk Verge-Depre; Poles Bartosz Losiak, Piotr Kantor, and Michal Bryl; Spaniards Raul Mesa and Pablo Herrera; Latvians Martins Plavins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs; Italy’s Paolo Nicolai; Netherlands’ Marleen Van Iersel; Canada’s Samuel Schachter; and Ukraine’s Sergiy Popov, among many others.
The Future of Beach Volleyball
As the 2025 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships get underway in Cholula, Puebla, it’s more than just a competition for gold. It`s a proving ground, a stepping stone, and a powerful showcase of the next generation`s talent. These young athletes aren`t just playing for medals; they`re auditioning for future Olympic glory, with the world, and certainly a few talent scouts, watching intently. The stage is set, the sand is ready, and the future of beach volleyball is about to unfold under the Mexican sun.
