Türkiye’s women’s volleyball team made history at the 2025 FIVB World Championship on Thursday, defeating the United States 3-1 to advance to the semifinals for the first time, where they will face Japan.

The national team opened strong, winning the first set 25-14 with solid defense from Gizem Örge, Eda Erdem Dündar and Zehra Güneş. The U.S. responded in the second set, pulling ahead late to claim it 25-22 and level the match. Türkiye regained control in the third, dominating with effective serves and blocks to win 25-14, before edging a tight fourth set 25-23 to seal the victory.

Ebrar Karakurt, Hande Baladın, Melissa Vargas and captain Eda Erdem were among the standout performers for Türkiye, which will now face Japan, coached by Turkish head coach Ferhat Akbaş, in the semifinals on Sept. 6.

The 2025 tournament, the first edition under the new two-year cycle in odd-numbered years, features 32 teams competing across four Thai cities: Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.

Türkiye have reached this stage after a commanding 3-0 victory over Slovenia in the round of 16, with set scores of 30-28, 25-13, and 29-27.