With World Aquatics announcing the hosts for the 2025 Water Polo World Cup season, the road to qualification for the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 begins to take shape.

The competition will see both men’s and women’s Division 1 and Division 2 tournaments, with top-performing teams securing their place in the prestigious World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup 2025 – Super Finals and the World Aquatics Championships.

The format will remain consistent with the structure introduced in 2023, featuring two qualification tournaments each for men and women. The season will culminate with the Super Finals and will serve as a qualifier for the World Championships in Singapore.

Division 1 Tournament: Men’s Water Polo

Novi Sad, Serbia, will play host to the Men’s Division 1 tournament from January 6-11, 2025. Twelve teams earned their spot in the tournament through previous international competition: Croatia, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Japan, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and the United States of America.

Division 1 Tournament: Women’s Water Polo

The Women’s Division 1 tournament will take place in Alexandroupolis, Greece, from January 14-19, 2025. Eight teams will compete: Australia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and the United States of America.

World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup 2025 | Division 2 Tournaments

Both the men’s and women’s Division 2 tournaments will be held in Istanbul, Turkiye. The women’s event will run from December 16-18, 2024, with the men’s tournament taking place immediately after from December 19-21, 2024. These tournaments are open to teams from Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, giving nations a chance to compete for a spot in the Super Finals.

Qualification Pathway and Super Finals

Six teams from the Division 1 tournaments and two from Division 2 will advance to the Water Polo World Cup 2025 – Super Final. The top teams from these Super Finals will then qualify for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

Key Voices and Final Preparations

Tamas Molnar, Chair of the World Aquatics Water Polo Technical Committee, highlighted the importance of the announcement:

“We’ve seen this new World Cup format elevate water polo to new heights. With the calendar dates now set, teams can begin their final preparations. We’ve worked closely with our stakeholders to ensure the competition windows and event hosts align with existing water polo schedules, minimising disruptions. We’re excited to have Alexandroupolis (GRE), Istanbul (TUR), Novi Sad (SRB) holding our upcoming events, and we look forward to officially announcing the hosts for the men’s and women’s World Aquatics Water Polo Super Finals soon.”

Key Dates and Venues for 2025 Water Polo World Cup Season

Men’s Water Polo

• Division 1: Novi Sad (SRB) from 6-11 January 2025
• Division 2: Istanbul (TUR) from 19-21 December 2024
• Super Final: Host TBD, from 18-20 April 2025

Women’s Water Polo

• Division 1: Alexandroupolis, Greece (January 14-19, 2025)
• Division 2: Istanbul, Turkiye (December 16-18, 2024)
• Super Final: Host TBD (April 11-13, 2025)