Australia’s men’s national water polo team has secured qualification for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, overpowering New Zealand across two legs in the Oceania qualification play-offs.
The Aussie Sharks took a firm grip on the tie with an 18–7 win in the first leg, before finishing the job emphatically with a 24–9 victory in the second, sealing a 42–16 aggregate triumph.
This marks Australia’s 22nd appearance at the World Championships since their debut in 1973, continuing their status as Oceania’s dominant force. The team is looking to rebound after a mixed 2024 campaign, where they placed 8th at the Paris Olympic Games and 11th at the Doha World Championships earlier in the year.
Historically, the Australians reached their peak in 1998 with a 4th-place finish—still their best result to date. The 2010s saw a stretch of solid top-eight finishes, including 6th place in 2019 and 7th in 2017, reflecting a team that was closing the gap on the global elite. However, more recent performances have shown signs of plateauing, with back-to-back 11th-place finishes in 2022 and 2024 suggesting that while the team remains competitive, they’ve struggled to break into the top tier.
Nonetheless, qualification for Singapore offers a fresh opportunity. With a relatively young squad and a foundation built on Olympic experience, the Aussie Sharks will be aiming to restore their place among the world’s top eight—and perhaps even mount a deeper run into the knockout stages.
Australia joins a growing list of nations heading to Singapore for the 2025 World Championships, set to be hosted in the city-state for the first time. The focus now shifts to preparation, squad selection, and a chance to reignite momentum on the global stage.
Read more about the World Championships
Follow Waterpolo 360 on Facebook, Instagram and X