BOYNEXTDOOR to headline FIVB Men’s Worlds opener in PH (2025)

BOYNEXTDOOR during the 2025 FIBA Volleyball Men’s World Championship appointment ceremony at the HYBE headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. K-pop group has been named Global Celebrity Ambassadors for the Philippines’ hosting of the event.

SEOUL — Fast-rising K-Pop group BOYNEXTDOOR is set to spice up the Philippines’ hosting of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship as the headline performer of the opening ceremony on September 12 at Mall of Asia Arena.

In an announcement on Saturday at the HYBE Headquarters here, the six-member K-pop group was unveiled as the World Championship’s Global Celebrity Ambassadors and is scheduled to treat the Filipino fans to a dynamic performance on opening night in Manila.

READ: PNVF ramps up preparations for FIVB men’s championships hosting

BOYNEXTDOOR, composed of SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK, will return to Manila to kick off the 32-team world championships that feature the host’s Alas Pilipinas men’s team.

The members of the BOYNEXTDOOR, who made Manila one of their stops for their ‘KNOCK ON Vol. 1’ tour last month, expressed their excitement to serenade the Filipino fans, who are known as passionate fans of volleyball and K-pop.

“The World Championship is extremely meaningful because it’s where the beauty of volleyball is showcased in the world,” said JAEYHUN during the appointment ceremony.

“What makes it more meaningful in 2025 is that the Korean men’s national team is competing for the first time in 11 years. To be part of that journey as global ambassadors in such a special year fill us with excitement and a sense of responsibility.”

READ: Historic FIVB world hosting gets full backing from different sides

It is the first time that a K-pop act is scheduled to perform in the World Championship, with the PNVF and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) looking to highlight the powerful global influence of Kpop and volleyball–both seeing a massive surge in popularity in the country over the last decade.

“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 the FIVB Executive Vice President, during a speech during the appointment ceremony.

PNVF and AVC president Tats Suzara welcomes BOYNEXTDOOR as the Global Celebrity Ambassadors.

The PNVF and FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship LOC tap the fast-rising K-pop group to perform on opening day and promote the #MWCH | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/0WOo2KywPG

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 26, 2025

“With the championship proudly hosted in thePhilippines, 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.”

Neocolors Productions and Advertising Inc., headed by its CEO and LOC Sponsorship Manager Dr. Christine Daguno-Canoy, was tasked by PNVF to recruit top-tier global celebrity ambassadors from Seoul. Initial meetings with HYBE started in October last year.

BOYNEXTDOORdebuted under KOZ Entertainment in 2023 and emerged as the hottest new acts with its first extended play WHY.., debuting on the Billboard 200 chart and securing the no.1 spot on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart.

Since then, the group has emerged as a million sellers starting with its mini album 19.99 that came out in September 2024.

With BoyNextDoor amplifying interest for the tournament and the opening day, Alas Pilipinas is expected to receive a huge boost hometown crowd when it debuts in the World Championship for the first time in 51 years.

READ: Alas Pilipinas set for overseas training for FIVB men’s worlds

Alas Pilipinas opens its Pool A campaign against Tunisia, currently the World No. 40 and an 11-time African championship winner, followed by the act of BOYNEXTDOOR.

The other Men’s World Championshippreliminary games are also scheduled at Smart Araneta Coliseum from September 12 to 18. The knockout stage will take place at MOA Arena from September 20 to 28.