2026 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup

2026 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup
LeagueFINA Water Polo World Cup
SportWater polo
Duration7 April – 26 July
Super Final

The 2026 Men's FINA Water Polo World Cup will be the 19th edition of the tournament. It will run from 7 April to 25 July 2026.[1][2] The super final will be held in Sydney, Australia.

The top three teams will qualify for the 2027 World Aquatics Championships.

Format

There will be two divisions. The top-six teams of Division 1 and the top-two teams from Division 2 will compete in the super final.[3][4] A win gives a team three points, a win after penalties two, a loss after penalties one and a loss after regular time zero points.[5]

Division 1

Division 1
Tournament details
Host country Greece
Venue1
Dates6–12 April
Teams8

Division 1 will be held in Alexandroupolis, Greece between 6 and 12 April 2026.[6]

The teams are split into two pools of four teams, with the top two-teams forming a new group, same with the bottom two-teams. The top five teams advance to the super final.[7]

All times are local (UTC+3).

Preliminary round

Group A

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Serbia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Group C
2  Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Group D
4  Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 6 April 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.[8]
6 April 2026
14:00 		Serbia  –  Netherlands Alexandroupolis
6 April 2026
18:00 		Hungary  –  Greece Alexandroupolis
7 April 2026
14:00 		Netherlands  –  Hungary Alexandroupolis
7 April 2026
18:00 		Greece  –  Serbia Alexandroupolis
8 April 2026
14:00 		Serbia  –  Hungary Alexandroupolis
8 April 2026
18:00 		Netherlands  –  Greece Alexandroupolis

Group B

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Group C
2  Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Group D
4  United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 6 April 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.[8]
6 April 2026
16:00 		Italy  –  Spain Alexandroupolis
6 April 2026
20:15 		Croatia  –  United States Alexandroupolis
7 April 2026
16:00 		Spain  –  Croatia Alexandroupolis
7 April 2026
20:15 		United States  –  Italy Alexandroupolis
8 April 2026
16:00 		Italy  –  Croatia Alexandroupolis
8 April 2026
20:15 		Spain  –  United States Alexandroupolis

Second round

Group C

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Super final
2 B1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 9 April 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.[8]
9 April 2026
18:00 		A1 – B2 Alexandroupolis
9 April 2026
20:15 		B1 – A2 Alexandroupolis
11 April 2026
18:00 		A1 – A2 Alexandroupolis
11 April 2026
20:15 		B1 – B2 Alexandroupolis
12 April 2026
13:00 		B2 – A2 Alexandroupolis
12 April 2026
15:00 		A1 – B1 Alexandroupolis

Group D

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 C1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Super final
2 D1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 9 April 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.[8]
9 April 2026
14:00 		A3 – B4 Alexandroupolis
9 April 2026
16:00 		B3 – A4 Alexandroupolis
11 April 2026
14:00 		B3 – B4 Alexandroupolis
11 April 2026
16:00 		A3 – A4 Alexandroupolis
12 April 2026
09:00 		A3 – B3 Alexandroupolis
12 April 2026
11:00 		A4 – B4 Alexandroupolis

Division 2

Division 2
Tournament details
Host country Malta
Venue1
Dates7–13 April

Division 2 will be held in Malta between 7 and 13 April 2026.[6]

The teams are sorted in one league phase, playing three games based on ranking. The top 16 teams of the standings will advance to the knockout stage, where the top-two teams will qualify for the super final.[7]

All times are (UTC+2).

League phase

Teams are ranked by points and then strength of schedule before the other tiebreakers are used.[9]

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Montenegro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16
2  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Romania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8  China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9  Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10  Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11  Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12  Singapore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13  Malta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14  South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15  Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16  Kazakhstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17  Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18  Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19  Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20  Great Britain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 NAB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22  Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23  Hong Kong 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24  Slovenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 7 April 2026. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference.[8]

Day 1

7 April 2026
09:00 		China  –  Great Britain Fgura
7 April 2026
10:00 		Romania  –  Slovakia Msida
7 April 2026
11:00 		Georgia  –  Turkey Fgura
7 April 2026
11:30 		Canada  –  Singapore Msida
7 April 2026
13:00 		Germany  –  Slovenia Fgura
7 April 2026
13:00 		South Africa  –  Portugal Msida
7 April 2026
15:00 		Argentina  –  Hong Kong Fgura
7 April 2026
16:00 		Brazil  – NAB Msida
7 April 2026
17:00 		France  –  Ukraine Fgura
7 April 2026
17:30 		Montenegro  –  Kazakhstan Msida
7 April 2026
19:00 		Japan  –  Poland Fgura
7 April 2026
19:00 		Australia  –  Malta Msida

Day 2

8 April 2026
09:00 		Ukraine  –  Hong Kong Fgura
8 April 2026
10:00 		Great Britain  – NAB Msida
8 April 2026
11:00 		China  –  Australia Fgura
8 April 2026
11:30 		Georgia  –  Brazil Msida
8 April 2026
13:00 		Romania  –  South Africa Fgura
8 April 2026
13:00 		Portugal  –  Poland Msida
8 April 2026
15:00 		Argentina  –  Montenegro Fgura
8 April 2026
16:00 		Slovenia  –  Slovakia Msida
8 April 2026
17:00 		Germany  –  Japan Fgura
8 April 2026
17:30 		Turkey  –  Singapore Msida
8 April 2026
19:00 		France  –  Canada Fgura
8 April 2026
19:00 		Malta  –  Kazakhstan Msida

Day 3

9 April 2026
09:00 		Germany  –  Hong Kong Fgura
9 April 2026
10:00 		Australia  –  Singapore Msida
9 April 2026
11:00 		Georgia  –  Slovenia Fgura
9 April 2026
11:30 		Canada  –  Portugal Msida
9 April 2026
13:00 		China  –  Turkey Fgura
9 April 2026
13:00 		South Africa  – NAB Msida
9 April 2026
15:00 		Argentina  –  Ukraine Fgura
9 April 2026
16:00 		Brazil  –  Kazakhstan Msida
9 April 2026
17:00 		France  –  Poland Fgura
9 April 2026
17:30 		Montenegro  –  Great Britain Msida
9 April 2026
19:00 		Japan  –  Slovakia Fgura
9 April 2026
19:00 		Romania  –  Malta Msida

Bracket

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
10 April
 
 
Seed 1
 
11 April
 
Seed 16
 
 
 
10 April
 
 
 
Seed 8
 
12 April
 
Seed 9
 
 
 
10 April
 
 
 
Seed 4
 
11 April
 
Seed 13
 
 
 
10 April
 
 
 
Seed 5
 
13 April
 
Seed 12
 
 
 
10 April
 
 
 
Seed 2
 
11 April
 
Seed 5
 
 
 
10 April
 
 
 
Seed 7
 
12 April
 
Seed 10
 
 
 
10 April
 
 Third place
 
Seed 3
 
11 April13 April
 
Seed 14
 
  
 
10 April
 
  
 
Seed 6
 
 
Seed 11
 

Fifth place bracket

 
5–8th place semifinalsFifth place
 
      
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
13 April
 
 
 
 
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seventh place
 
 
13 April
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ninth place bracket

 
9–16th place quarterfinals9–12th place semifinalsNinth place
 
          
 
11 April
 
 
 
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
 
11 April
 
 
 
 
 
13 April
 
 
 
 
 
11 April
 
 
 
 
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
 
11 April
 
 Eleventh place
 
 
 
13 April
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

13th place bracket

 
13–16th place semifinals13th place
 
      
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
13 April
 
 
 
 
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15th place
 
 
13 April
 
 
 
 
 
 

17th place bracket

 
17–24th place quarterfinals17–20th place semifinals17th place
 
          
 
10 April
 
 
Seed 17
 
11 April
 
Seed 24
 
 
 
10 April
 
 
 
Seed 20
 
12 April
 
Seed 21
 
 
 
10 April
 
 
 
Seed 18
 
11 April
 
Seed 23
 
 
 
10 April
 
 19th place
 
Seed 19
 
12 April
 
Seed 22
 
 
 
 
 
 

21st place bracket

 
21st–24th place semifinals21st place
 
      
 
11 April
 
 
 
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
 
11 April
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23rd place
 
 
12 April
 
 
 
 
 
 

Round of 16

10 April 2026
09:00 		Seed 1 – Seed 16 Fgura
10 April 2026
10:00 		Seed 7 – Seed 10 Msida
10 April 2026
11:00 		Seed 2 – Seed 15 Fgura
10 April 2026
11:30 		Seed 8 – Seed 9 Msida
10 April 2026
13:00 		Seed 3 – Seed 14 Fgura
10 April 2026
15:00 		Seed 4 – Seed 13 Fgura
10 April 2026
17:00 		Seed 5 – Seed 12 Fgura
10 April 2026
19:00 		Seed 6 – Seed 11 Fgura

17–24th place quarterfinals

10 April 2026
13:00 		Seed 17 – Seed 24 Msida
10 April 2026
16:00 		Seed 18 – Seed 23 Msida
10 April 2026
17:30 		Seed 19 – Seed 22 Msida
10 April 2026
19:00 		Seed 20 – Seed 21 Msida

9–16th place quarterfinals

11 April 2026
10:00 		LRO1 – LRO2 Msida
11 April 2026
11:30 		LRO3 – LRO4 Msida
11 April 2026
17:00 		LRO5 – LRO6 Fgura
11 April 2026
19:00 		LRO7 – LRO8 Fgura

Quarterfinals

11 April 2026
13:00 		WRO1 – WRO2 Msida
11 April 2026
16:00 		WRO3 – WRO4 Msida
11 April 2026
17:30 		WRO5 – WRO6 Msida
11 April 2026
19:00 		WRO7 – WRO8 Msida

21st–24th place semifinals

11 April 2026
09:00 		LQF1 – LQF2 Fgura
11 April 2026
11:00 		LQF3 – LQF4 Fgura

17–20th place semifinals

11 April 2026
13:00 		WQF1 – WQF2 Fgura
11 April 2026
15:00 		WQF3 – WQF4 Fgura

13–16th place semifinals

12 April 2026
17:00 		LQF1 – LQF2 Fgura
12 April 2026
19:00 		LQF3 – LQF4 Fgura

9–12th place semifinals

12 April 2026
10:00 		WQF1 – WQF2 Msida
12 April 2026
11:30 		WQF3 – WQF4 Msida

5–8th place semifinals

12 April 2026
13:00 		LQF1 – LQF2 Msida
12 April 2026
16:00 		LQF3 – LQF4 Msida

Semifinals

12 April 2026
17:30 		WQF1 – WQF2 Msida
12 April 2026
19:00 		WQF3 – WQF4 Msida

23rd place game

12 April 2026
09:00 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

21st place game

13 April 2026
13:00 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

19th place game

12 April 2026
11:00 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

17th place game

12 April 2026
15:00 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

15th place game

13 April 2026
08:30 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

13th place game

13 April 2026
10:00 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Eleventh place game

13 April 2026
11:30 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

Ninth place game

13 April 2026
13:00 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Seventh place game

13 April 2026
14:30 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

Fifth place game

13 April 2026
16:00 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Third place game

13 April 2026
17:30 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

Final

13 April 2026
19:00 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Super final

2026 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup
Tournament details
Host country Australia
Venue1
Dates23–26 July
Teams8

The tournament will take place between 22 and 26 July 2026 in Sydney, Australia.[2]

Teams

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
23 July
 
 
 
 
25 July
 
 
 
 
 
23 July
 
 
 
 
 
26 July
 
 
 
 
 
23 July
 
 
 
 
 
25 July
 
 
 
 
 
23 July
 
 Third place
 
 
 
26 July
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fifth place bracket

 
5–8th place semifinalsFifth place
 
      
 
25 July
 
 
 
 
26 July
 
 
 
 
 
25 July
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seventh place
 
 
26 July
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quarterfinals

23 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney
23 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney
23 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney
23 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney

5–8th place semifinals

25 July 2026 LQF1 – LQF2 Sydney
25 July 2026 LQF3 – LQF4 Sydney

Semifinals

25 July 2026 WQF1 – WQF2 Sydney
25 July 2026 WQF3 – WQF4 Sydney

Seventh place game

26 July 2026 LSF1 – LSF2 Sydney

Fifth place game

26 July 2026 WSF1 – WSF2 Sydney

Third place game

26 July 2026 LSF1 – LSF2 Sydney

Final

26 July 2026 WSF1 – WSF2 Sydney

Final standings

Rank[1] Team
4
5
6
7
8

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Sydney Set to Host the Men's and Women's Water Polo World Cup Finals in 2026". worldaquatics.org. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  3. ^ "New FINA competition: World Cup replaces World League". total-waterpolo.com. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Water polo calendar shake-up breathes life into World Aquatics World Cup season". fina.org. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Rules & Regulations 2023" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ a b "Host cities confirmed for the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup season". worldaquatics.com. 29 December 2025.
  7. ^ a b "World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup 2026 Draw sets Road to Sydney". worldaquatics.com. 20 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Competition regulations" (PDF). worldaquatics.org. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Rules and Regulations" (PDF). worldaquatics.org. 8 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
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