Varna, Bulgaria, September 13, 2018 - Co-hosts Bulgaria entertain Iran Thursday, as both teams look to defend their undefeated status at the 2018 FIVB World Championship after opening wins over Finland and Puerto Rico respectively. It's the third time the two go head-to-head in a World Championship, with the Balkan side have won both previous encounters in straight sets.
Head-to-Head
• Bulgaria have won both World Championship matches against Iran in straight sets.
• The first World Championship match between Iran and Bulgaria was in 1970, when the Bulgarians were hosting the tournament. The hosts won in straight sets in Sofia.
• The most recent World Championship fixture between Iran and Bulgaria was in Nagano in 2006. The Bulgarians won in straight sets.
• Iran defeated Bulgaria 3-1 in both the 2016 World League (Novi Sad) and the 2018 Nations League (Tehran).
• Iran finished 10th in the 2018 Nations League, one place ahead of Bulgaria.
Iran
• Iran started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico.
• Iran won their opening match in only one of their previous five appearances at the World Championship, a 3-1 victory against Italy in Krakow at the 2014 tournament. They added another win in match two back then, 3-2 against United States.
• Iran have now won four world level major tournament matches in a row. They have had one run of five straight wins, during the 2015 World League.
• Seyed Mohammed Mousavi Eraghi was Iran's top scorer against Puerto Rico with 11 points. Eight different players scored at least one of Iran's 75 points in that match.
Bulgaria
• Bulgaria won their 2018 World Championship opening match 3-0 against Finland (25-21, 25-19, 25-22).
• Bulgaria can start a World Championship campaign with consecutive wins for the first time since 2006, when they followed up a five-set victory over Italy in their opener with a 3-0 win over United States.
• Nikolay Ushikov scored a match-high 14 points in Bulgaria's straight-set victory over Finland.
• Co-hosts Bulgaria were 13th at the 2014 World Championship, equalling their worst performance at the tournament (also 13th in 2002).
• Bulgaria have hosted the World Championship on one previous occasion - 1970. They finished as runners-up to East Germany, the Bulgarians' best performance at the tournament.