Greece’s women’s national team captured their first ever World Cup crown with a commanding 13–9 win over Hungary in the final in Chengdu, China.
It was a composed and confident performance from the Greeks, who never trailed and impressed throughout the three-day tournament. Their victory was fully deserved, as they controlled the game from the first whistle to the last. In their first World Cup final appearance, Charis Pavlidis’ side played with discipline and tactical clarity.
Xenaki shines as Greece pull away
Elena Xenaki was outstanding on the right side, netting three crucial goals to help break down the Hungarian defence. She was joined on the scoresheet by Eleftheria Plevritou, who also scored three times. Plevritou, who plays her club water polo in Hungary with Ferencváros, proved especially effective in the second half.
At the halfway point, Greece held a narrow 6–4 lead. However, after the break, their defence tightened, and Hungary’s attacks lost momentum. Three unanswered goals in the third quarter pushed the game out of reach for the Magyars.
Despite the loss, Hungary’s Vanda Vályi put in another strong showing, scoring five of her team’s nine goals. Greece did miss two penalties—one of which was saved by Boglárka Neszmély—but those were among the few moments that went Hungary’s way.
A dream start for Pavlidis
This result marks a dream start for head coach Charis Pavlidis. In his first tournament in charge, he has already delivered a major international title. Greece had not won a global gold medal since the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, making this an especially significant milestone.
Final score:
Greece 13 – 9 Hungary
(5–4, 1–0, 6–3, 1–2)
Other results in Chengdu
In the bronze medal match, the Netherlands defeated reigning Olympic champions Spain 10–8. It was a structured and composed performance that neutralised the Spanish offence. Meanwhile, Australia edged Italy 14–13 in a penalty shootout to finish fifth, after a dramatic contest in regular time.
In the 7th-place match, Japan beat hosts China 18–17 in one of the tournament’s highest-scoring games. Yumi Arima led the way for the Japanese side, scoring four goals.
Final Rankings
- Greece
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Australia
- Italy
- Japan
- China
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