Eight of the world’s top men’s water polo nations are set to battle for global supremacy this week in the 2025 World Aquatics Men’s Water Polo World Cup Finals (April 11–13).
Hosted in the historic city of Podgorica, having been relocated from Kotor, the three-day tournament features a high-stakes, knockout format — and all eyes are on reigning champions Spain.
The lineup includes Spain, Hungary, Greece, Japan, Montenegro, and Croatia, who qualified through the Division One series earlier this year in Bucharest. Joining them are Germany and the Netherlands, who emerged from the Division Two series in Istanbul. With a compressed schedule and little margin for error, the road to the title promises to be ruthless.
Favourites, Form & First Tests
Spain enter as the tournament favourites, buoyed by their emphatic 15-9 victory over Hungary in January’s Division One final. The reigning World Cup holders, led by superstars Alvaro Granados, Bernat Sanahuja, and Roger Tahull, boast continuity and firepower — but they’ll need both in a field stacked with Olympic pedigree and emerging talent.
Greece, third-place finishers in Bucharest after a 17-10 win over Montenegro, look sharp heading into Podgorica. They’ll be tested early by Japan, whose speed and unpredictability often disrupt more structured European sides.
Despite their disappointing finishes at last summer’s Paris Olympics, these rosters are far from static. Croatia (silver in Paris), Hungary (4th), Greece (5th), and Spain (6th) have all reshaped their squads, with a mix of returning Olympians and new faces eyeing glory.
Notably absent is Olympic champion Serbia, who failed to qualify after finishing ninth in Bucharest. The USA, Australia, and Canada are also missing, leaving Japan as the lone non-European team in the draw.
What’s at Stake
With the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore looming in July, this tournament serves as a critical stepping stone for tactical fine-tuning and squad cohesion. For many nations, Podgorica is not just about silverware — it’s about sending a message.
The knockout format means there’s no room for slow starts. The quarterfinals kick off on Friday, with winners advancing to Saturday’s semifinals and final classification games set for Sunday.
Quarterfinal Schedule – April 11
- 🕑 14:00 – Spain vs Germany
- 🕓 16:10 – Hungary vs Netherlands
- 🕕 18:20 – Greece vs Japan
- 🕗 20:30 – Montenegro vs Croatia
A Tournament With Legacy
This marks the 17th edition of the World Cup, which transitioned to an annual event in 2023 after replacing the now-defunct World League. The competition skipped last year due to the congested Olympic calendar.
The last edition, held in Los Angeles in 2023, saw Spain take gold over Italy, while the USA secured bronze against Hungary. Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Germany rounded out the top eight — a reminder of the depth and unpredictability at this level.
Podgorica Returns to Centre Stage
Montenegro’s capital is no stranger to elite water polo. The city hosted the 2009 World League Super Final and the 2016 U18 Men’s World Championships, and now welcomes a new chapter of international action. For fans, it’s a chance to see how the global hierarchy is evolving in the first post-Olympic season.
Spain may be the favourites on paper — but in this format, momentum is everything.