The men’s water polo semifinals at the World Championships in Singapore will feature a heavyweight quartet: Olympic champions Serbia, reigning European and World Cup winners Spain, Hungary, and a resurgent Greece. Each team impressed in the quarterfinals, stamping their authority in decisive fashion to set up two tantalising semifinal clashes.

Greece opened the session with a 17–11 win over Italy, taking full advantage of a four-minute exclusion after Matteo Iocchi Gratta was red-carded for a violent foul. But it was more than just the numerical edge—Greece controlled the game from start to finish, showing composure and clinical execution.

Spain followed with a dominant 14–5 victory over Montenegro, conceding three goals in the opening minutes before shutting the door defensively and outscoring their opponents 11–2 across the remaining quarters.

In a rematch of the Olympic semifinals, Serbia, sticking with the core of their Paris 2024 gold-medal team, overcame a young USA squad 14–9. The Serbs led throughout and never allowed the Americans a way back into the contest.

Hungary completed the semifinal lineup with a commanding 18–12 win over defending champions Croatia. After trailing 6–5 early, Hungary surged ahead with a string of unanswered goals and kept Croatia at bay, sealing the win with a final-quarter flurry.

Friday’s semifinals will see Greece take on Spain, while Serbia and Hungary face off in a clash of continental champions.

Croatia 12 – 18 Hungary

Hungary dethroned reigning champions Croatia with an emphatic 18–12 victory, dominating the final three quarters to secure their place in the semifinals. After an even opening spell that ended 6–6, Hungary seized control with a three-goal burst in the second period and never looked back.

Captain Krisztián Manhercz led by example with four goals, while Márton Vámos and Ádám Nagy each struck three. Croatia struggled to match Hungary’s tempo and precision, despite strong efforts from Zvonimir Butić and Konstantin Kharkov. Kristóf Csoma was solid in goal with 11 saves, and Hungary’s energy, aggression, and execution proved too much for a Croatian side that simply couldn’t keep pace. From 6–5 down to 9–6 up in a flash, Hungary took hold of the match and never let go.

Spain 13 – 5 Montenegro

World Cup champions Spain overcame early pressure from Montenegro to secure an 13–5 quarterfinal victory and book their spot in the semifinals. The Balkan side led three times in the opening stages, but once Spain hit their stride, there was no way back. Bernat Sanahuja was unstoppable, scoring six goals from ten shots, including a hat-trick in the second quarter that broke Montenegro’s resistance.

Montenegro went over 18 minutes without a goal, stifled by Spain’s physical and disciplined defence. Granados converted both penalties, while Spain went 3/5 on extra-man plays and saved six of Montenegro’s nine attempts. Despite firing more shots (36–33) and making more steals (7–3), Montenegro simply couldn’t find the net.

This was a statement win for Spain, who now turn their attention to the semifinals, while Montenegro once again falls short of the top four.

Italy 11 – 17 Greece

Greece marched into the semifinals with a commanding 17–11 victory over Italy in a match defined by both high drama and high-quality water polo. The tone was set early in a chaotic first quarter, when a violent foul by Italy’s Matteo Iocchi Gratta resulted in a red card and a four-minute exclusion. Greece seized the opportunity in devastating fashion, scoring four times during the man-up period to transform a tight contest into a runaway. From that point, there was no way back for Italy.

Stylianos Argyropoulos and Aristeidis Chalyvopoulos spearheaded the Greek attack, while Panagiotis Tzortzatos was immense in goal, finishing with 16 saves. By halftime, Greece had raced to a 9–2 lead, their defensive organisation and clinical finishing leaving Italy shellshocked.

To their credit, Italy showed resilience. Missing from the World Cup due to suspension, they battled to stay in touch, with Lorenzo Bruni and captain Francesco Di Fulvio leading the response. But the early damage was irreparable. Greece maintained control throughout, with Argyropoulos scoring four and Chalyvopoulos adding three more. Even as Italy improved in the second half, the Greeks managed the game with maturity, matching every surge with one of their own.

This was a statement performance from Greece—disciplined, dynamic, and ruthless when it mattered most. The early red card was pivotal, but it was Greece’s response that defined the match. Italy played their part in a compelling contest, but it was Greece who delivered when the stakes were highest.

United States 9 – 14 Serbia

Serbia delivered a composed and clinical performance to defeat the United States 14–9 and secure their place in the semifinals. Unlike the high-tempo quarterfinals earlier in the day, this was a more controlled affair, with Serbia methodically building their lead across all four quarters.

A 4–1 advantage midway through the second period set the tone, and despite moments of resistance from the Americans—particularly through Hannes Daube and Nicolas Saveljic—Serbia always held the upper hand. Strahinja Rasovic, Milos Cuk, Nikola Jaksic, and Nemanja Vico each scored twice, while Radoslav Filipovic made key stops in goal. The Serbs were sharp on extra-man opportunities and punished USA’s defensive lapses, proving once again they remain serious title contenders.

While the quarterfinals grabbed the spotlight, the classification matches delivered plenty of drama and standout performances as teams battled for final placement. From Japan’s lightning-fast start to Singapore’s emotional first-ever World Championship victory, these matches provided a glimpse into the future of several rising programs.

Romania and Japan will now face off for ninth place after commanding semifinal wins, while Australia closed out their campaign on a high. Host nation Singapore gave its fans a reason to celebrate, edging South Africa in a tense, last-gasp finish to cap their debut appearance in style.

Classification 9-12 Semifinals

Romania 18 – 12 Canada

Romania booked a spot in the ninth-place playoff with a composed 17–12 win over Canada, building on a dominant 4–0 start that set the tone. Francesco Iudean starred with five goals, supported by Georgescu and Neamtu with three apiece, while Marius-Florin Tic made 13 saves. Despite Canada’s push in the second half—led by Reuel D’Souza’s four goals—Romania’s early cushion and sharp extra-man play proved decisive.

Japan 22 – 11 Brazil

Japan cruised past Brazil 22–11 to move within reach of ninth place, fuelled by a blistering 7–1 first quarter that left their opponents reeling. Yusuke Inaba led the way with five goals, Keigo Watanabe added four, and Towa Nishimura made ten saves in a dominant all-round display. Despite flashes from Brazil—Pedro Real netting a hat-trick and João Fernandes making nine saves—the damage was done early, and Japan’s fast-paced attack never let up.

Classification 13-14

Australia 15 – 9 China

Australia secured a 15–9 victory over China to close their campaign in the 13th-place playoff, marking their first time in this classification since 1973. Despite falling 2–0 behind early, the Aussie Sharks responded emphatically, surging to an 11–3 lead early in the third quarter. Captain Nathan Power led from the front with five goals, lifting his tournament tally to 15, while Marcus Berehulak and Matthew Byrnes added key contributions. China fought hard to stay in the contest, with captain Chen Zhongxian scoring three and Chen Rui adding two, but Australia’s efficiency on the man-up and strong goalkeeping from Nic Porter and Laurence Barker proved too much. Though disappointed to miss the top 12 after a narrow loss to Greece in the group stage, Australia ended on a high, while China, finishing 14th, slipped two places from their Doha finish last year.

Classification 15-16

Singapore 14 – 13 South Africa

Singapore claimed a dramatic 14–13 victory over South Africa to finish 15th in its debut World Championships campaign, delivering a thrilling performance in front of a home crowd. A blistering 7–2 opening quarter—powered by doubles from Sanjiv Rajandra and Jian Ying Koh—ultimately made the difference, as the hosts clung on despite a fierce South African comeback. Wen Zhe Goh also netted three goals before receiving a red card in the fourth period after a lengthy VAR review, while goalkeeper Ken Chou made 13 saves to help preserve the narrow lead. South Africa rallied late, with the Sneddon brothers leading the charge, but their final shot bounced wide as Singapore celebrated a historic first win on the world stage.

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