Filipino fans are in for a major treat as fast-rising K-pop sensation BOYNEXTDOOR will headline the opening ceremony of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on September 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.
In a historic announcement made Saturday at HYBE Headquarters, Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara introduced SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK as the official Global Celebrity Ambassadors for the Manila World Championship.
“We have carefully reviewed and decided on the selection of BOYNEXTDOOR, as a truly pivotal move in elevating the global profile of volleyball and igniting excitement for the event,” said Suzara, who also serves as FIVB Executive Vice President.
“With the championship proudly hosted in the Philippines, this partnership presents an incredible opportunity to engage fans across the world, with the BOYNEXTDOOR’s unique appeal and dynamic global influence to attract a wider and more diverse audience profile.”
For the first time in the tournament’s history, a K-pop group will perform at the FIVB Men’s World Championship, a groundbreaking move by the PNVF and Local Organizing Committee (LOC) led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, William Vincent Araneta Marcos, and Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.
“By unifying the worlds of sports and entertainment, and making these work together as one, we aim to spark greater interest in volleyball, promote cultural exchange, and boost local economy through tourism and international engagement,,” Suzara added.
The initiative to bring in a top-tier K-pop act was spearheaded by Neocolors Productions and Advertising Inc., led by CEO and LOC Sponsorship Manager Dr. Christine Daguno-Canoy, who facilitated the collaboration with HYBE after an initial meeting in October last year.
BOYNEXTDOOR, who recently made Manila one of the stops in their 'KNOCK ON Vol. 1' tour, expressed their excitement to perform again for their passionate Filipino fanbase, this time on a global volleyball stage.
Since their debut under KOZ Entertainment in 2023, BOYNEXTDOOR has rapidly risen to fame, with their first extended play *WHY..* charting on the Billboard 200 and topping the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart — affirming their status as one of K-pop’s hottest new acts.
Their highly anticipated performance will set the tone for an exhilarating opening night as Alas Pilipinas — the country’s men’s national volleyball team — makes its historic return to the World Championship for the first time in 51 years.
2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship
Alas Pilipinas will launch their Pool A campaign against World No. 40 Tunisia, an 11-time African champion, before BOYNEXTDOOR lights up the stage. The Philippines will also face World No. 15 Iran and World No. 20 Egypt in the group stage.
Preliminary matches will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum from September 12 to 18, while the knockout rounds are set to take place at Mall of Asia Arena from September 20 to 28.
