MANILA, Philippines — Fan favorite USA is returning to Manila with a goal of getting over the hump in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

USA, which played in the Volleyball Nations League Manila leg last year, leads Pool D with Cuba, Portugal, and Colombia.

All games of Pool D will be played at Mall of Asia Arena, with the USA kicking off the September 13 games against Colombia, followed by the Cuba-Portugal game.

USA: Chasing podium

Micah Christenson and Team USA. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

USA placed sixth in the 2022 World Championship after getting eliminated by runner-up Poland in the quarterfinal.

With their 18th straight appearance, the Americans are bringing their experience from a bronze medal finish in the Olympic Games last year.

The World No.6 USA, which placed 11th in the VNL, parades an intact core, led by star setter Micah Christenson, libero captain Erik Shoji, and Paris Second Best Middle Blocker Taylor Averill.

Portugal: Long-awaited return

Portugal’s Alexandre Ferreira (C) plays a shot in front of France’s Nicolas Le Goff (R) and France’s Julien Lyneel (L) during the Euro 2019 volleyball match between Portugal and France, in Montpellier, on September 15, 2019. (Photo by PASCAL GUYOT / AFP)

Portugal returns to the World Championship after 23 years, earning its third appearance through the CEV European Golden League qualification.

Portugal, now the World No. 29, also qualified for the European Championship next year after being a consistent contender in the Golden League in the past four years, including a seventh-place finish in 2025.

The Portuguese will be bannered by Alexandre Ferreira, Tiago Violas, Nuno Marques, and Andre Pereira.

Cuba: Back in hunt

Cuba’s Miguel Angel Lopez Castro spikes the ball during the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Nations League match between Brazil and Cuba at the Maracanazinho gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 21, 2024. (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP)

Cuba is raring to return to the top of World Championship, 15 years after a runner-up finish in the 2010 edition when it fell to Brazil in the final.

The Cubans rose to the World No.10 after finishing seventh in the VNL with six wins and 20 points

Cuba, the 2022 Challenge Cup winner and Pan American Cup champion in the same year, is eager to surpass its 14th-place finish in the previous World Championship, with prolific scorers Roberlandy Simon, Miguel Angel Lopez, Marlon Yant, and Daniel Guillermo Martinez leading the way.

Colombia: Debut run

Colombia’s volleybal team players stand on the podium with their bronze medals of the volleyball men’s team event of the Pan American Games Santiago 2023, at the Parque O’Higgins Arena, in Santiago, on November 4, 2023. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP)

Colombia makes its World Championship debut after a breakthrough in 2023, claiming bronze medals in the Pan American Games and the South American Championship.

Under coach Paolo Montagnani, Colombia reached the World No.41 ranking with the program earning more support from its government.

Colombia fields a young and promising core powered by Ronald Jimenez, Maicol Isaac Ortiz, and Juan Camilo Ambuila.