Road to Singapore: World Championship groups drawn in Budapest

The groups are set for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore (July 11–24), following today’s official draw in Budapest. As teams now know their paths to the knockout rounds, attention turns toward final preparations for what will be the third consecutive World Championships held in Asia, and the fourth edition in four years.

Group Stage Overview

The full group draw is as follows:

Men’s Tournament Groups:
Group A – Italy, Serbia, Romania, South Africa
Group B – Australia, Spain, Hungary, Japan
Group C – Singapore, Canada, Brazil, USA
Group D – Greece, China, Montenegro, Croatia

Women’s Tournament Groups:
Group A – Australia, Italy, Singapore, New Zealand
Group B – China, Argentina, USA, Netherlands
Group C – Croatia, Greece, Japan, Hungary
Group D – Great Britain, South Africa, France, Spain

Champions and Debutants

Two reigning champions enter the tournament with major targets on their backs: Croatia’s men and the USA women. Both teams lifted gold in Doha 2024, and both will be looking to defend their crowns in Singapore against an increasingly competitive field.

There will also be some exciting newcomers. Singapore’s men’s team will make its first-ever appearance at the World Championships. The host nation’s women’s side debuted last year in Doha and will return in front of a home crowd.

Another notable milestone comes from Croatia’s women, who qualified for the first time in their history by securing 8th place at the 2024 European Championships.

What’s Next?

With the draw complete, all eyes turn to the opening matchday on July 11, as 16 men’s and 16 women’s national teams begin their campaign for world glory in Singapore. The tournament promises drama, history, and world-class water polo across two action-packed weeks.

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