2026 FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup

2026 FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup
LeagueFINA Water Polo World Cup
SportWater polo
Duration21 April – 26 July
Super Final

The 2026 Women's FINA Water Polo World Cup will be the 20th edition of the tournament. It will run from 21 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 Netherlands
Venue1
Dates1–6 May
Teams8

Division 1 will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands 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+2).

Preliminary round

Group A

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Group C
2  Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Group D
4  Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 1 May 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]
1 May 2026
14:00 		United States  –  Hungary Rotterdam
1 May 2026
15:45 		Japan  –  Spain Rotterdam
2 May 2026
14:00 		Hungary  –  Japan Rotterdam
2 May 2026
15:45 		Spain  –  United States Rotterdam
3 May 2026
14:00 		United States  –  Japan Rotterdam
3 May 2026
15:45 		Hungary  –  Spain Rotterdam

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  Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Group D
4  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 1 May 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]
1 May 2026
18:30 		Netherlands  –  Australia Rotterdam
1 May 2026
20:15 		Italy  –  Greece Rotterdam
2 May 2026
18:30 		Greece  –  Netherlands Rotterdam
2 May 2026
20:15 		Australia  –  Italy Rotterdam
3 May 2026
18:30 		Italy  –  Netherlands Rotterdam
3 May 2026
20:15 		Greece  –  Australia Rotterdam

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: 4 May 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]
4 May 2026
14:00 		A3 – B4 Rotterdam
4 May 2026
15:45 		B3 – A4 Rotterdam
5 May 2026
14:00 		B3 – B4 Rotterdam
5 May 2026
15:45 		A3 – A4 Rotterdam
6 May 2026
14:00 		A3 – B3 Rotterdam
6 May 2026
15:45 		A4 – B4 Rotterdam

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: 4 May 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]
4 May 2026
18:30 		A1 – B2 Rotterdam
4 May 2026
20:15 		B1 – A2 Rotterdam
5 May 2026
18:30 		A1 – A2 Rotterdam
5 May 2026
20:15 		B1 – B2 Rotterdam
6 May 2026
18:30 		B2 – A2 Rotterdam
6 May 2026
20:15 		A1 – B1 Rotterdam

Division 2

Division 2
Tournament details
Host country Malta
Venue1
Dates21–26 April

Division 2 will be held in Malta between 21 and 26 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  China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Quarterfinals
2  Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Great Britain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8  Singapore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9  Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10  Israel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11  Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12  Kazakhstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13  Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14  Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15    Neutral Athletes B [a] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16  Malta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 21 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

21 April 2026
09:00 		China  –  Turkey Fgura
21 April 2026
10:30 		Singapore  –  Israel Fgura
21 April 2026
12:00 		Great Britain  –  Portugal Fgura
21 April 2026
13:30 		South Africa  –  Kazakhstan Fgura
21 April 2026
15:00 		Argentina  –    Neutral Athletes B [a] Fgura
21 April 2026
16:30 		Croatia  –  Slovakia Fgura
21 April 2026
18:00 		Canada  –  Germany Fgura
21 April 2026
19:30 		Brazil  –  Malta Fgura

Day 2

22 April 2026
09:00 		China  –  Argentina Fgura
22 April 2026
10:30 		Canada  –  Brazil Fgura
22 April 2026
12:00 		Great Britain  –  Singapore Fgura
22 April 2026
13:30 		South Africa  –  Croatia Fgura
22 April 2026
15:00 		Turkey  –  Israel Fgura
22 April 2026
16:30 		Portugal  –  Kazakhstan Fgura
22 April 2026
18:00 		Neutral Athletes B [a]    –  Germany Fgura
22 April 2026
19:30 		Malta  –  Slovakia Fgura

Day 3

23 April 2026
09:00 		Canada  –  Portugal Fgura
23 April 2026
10:30 		Croatia  –  Malta Fgura
23 April 2026
12:00 		China  –  Germany Fgura
23 April 2026
13:30 		Great Britain  –  Kazakhstan Fgura
23 April 2026
15:00 		South Africa  –    Neutral Athletes B [a] Fgura
23 April 2026
16:30 		Argentina  –  Slovakia Fgura
23 April 2026
18:00 		Brazil  –  Israel Fgura
23 April 2026
19:30 		Singapore  –  Turkey Fgura

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
24 April
 
 
Seed 1
 
25 April
 
Seed 8
 
 
 
24 April
 
 
 
Seed 4
 
26 April
 
Seed 5
 
 
 
24 April
 
 
 
Seed 2
 
25 April
 
Seed 7
 
 
 
24 April
 
 Third place
 
Seed 3
 
26 April
 
Seed 6
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fifth place bracket

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

Ninth place bracket

 
9–16th place quarterfinals9–12th place semifinalsNinth place
 
          
 
24 April
 
 
Seed 9
 
25 April
 
Seed 16
 
 
 
24 April
 
 
 
Seed 12
 
26 April
 
Seed 13
 
 
 
24 April
 
 
 
Seed 10
 
25 April
 
Seed 15
 
 
 
24 April
 
 Eleventh place
 
Seed 11
 
26 April
 
Seed 14
 
 
 
 
 
 

13th place bracket

 
13–16th place semifinals13th place
 
      
 
25 April
 
 
 
 
26 April
 
 
 
 
 
25 April
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15th place
 
 
26 April
 
 
 
 
 
 

9–16th place quarterfinals

24 April 2026
09:00 		Seed 9 – Seed 16 Fgura
24 April 2026
10:30 		Seed 10 – Seed 15 Fgura
24 April 2026
12:00 		Seed 11 – Seed 14 Fgura
24 April 2026
13:30 		Seed 12 – Seed 13 Fgura

Quarterfinals

24 April 2026
15:00 		Seed 1 – Seed 8 Fgura
24 April 2026
16:30 		Seed 2 – Seed 7 Fgura
24 April 2026
18:00 		Seed 3 – Seed 6 Fgura
24 April 2026
19:30 		Seed 4 – Seed 5 Fgura

13–16th place semifinals

25 April 2026
09:00 		LQF1 – LQF2 Fgura
25 April 2026
10:30 		LQF3 – LQF4 Fgura

9–12th place semifinals

25 April 2026
12:00 		WQF1 – WQF2 Fgura
25 April 2026
13:30 		WQF3 – WQF4 Fgura

5–8th place semifinals

25 April 2026
15:00 		LQF1 – LQF2 Fgura
25 April 2026
16:30 		LQF3 – LQF4 Fgura

Semifinals

25 April 2026
18:00 		WQF1 – WQF2 Fgura
25 April 2026
19:30 		WQF3 – WQF4 Fgura

15th place game

26 April 2026
09:00 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

13th place game

26 April 2026
10:30 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Eleventh place game

26 April 2026
12:00 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

Ninth place game

26 April 2026
13:30 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Seventh place game

26 April 2026
15:00 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

Fifth place game

26 April 2026
16:30 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Third place game

26 April 2026
18:00 		LSF1 – LSF2 Fgura

Final

26 April 2026
19:30 		WSF1 – WSF2 Fgura

Super final

2026 FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup
Tournament details
Host country Australia
Venue1
Dates22–26 July
Teams8

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

Teams

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
22 July
 
 
 
 
24 July
 
 
 
 
 
22 July
 
 
 
 
 
26 July
 
 
 
 
 
22 July
 
 
 
 
 
24 July
 
 
 
 
 
22 July
 
 Third place
 
 
 
26 July
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fifth place bracket

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

Quarterfinals

22 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney
22 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney
22 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney
22 July 2026 TBD – TBD Sydney

5–8th place semifinals

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

Semifinals

24 July 2026 WQF1 – WQF2 Sydney
24 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

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d In accordance with sanctions imposed following by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia were not permitted to use the name, flag, or anthem of Russian Federation. They instead participated as "Neutral Athletes B (NAB)" and under the World Aquatics flag.

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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