Ukraine boycott sees NAB awarded 5–0 technical win in Malta
Ukraine’s 7th/8th place classification match against NAB at the World Cup Division 2 in Malta did not take place, after Ukraine chose not to participate in the fixture.
In accordance with competition regulations, the match has been recorded as a 5–0 technical victory in favour of NAB.
The fixture had already drawn significant attention, marking the first potential team-sport meeting between Ukrainian and Russian athletes since 2022, with the NAB side competing under neutral status following World Aquatics’ decision to reintegrate Russian teams from January 2026.
The boycott comes in the wider context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with the match carrying clear political and emotional weight beyond the pool. It is understood by sources close to the Ukrainian squad that they had asked World Aquatics to cancel the match — a request that was allegedly refused. The Ukrainian federation had previously voiced strong opposition to the inclusion of a Russian team in international competition.
There had also been concerns within the water polo community that, should the game go ahead, it could become overly physical or be overshadowed by controversy. Organisers had reportedly kept the two teams apart throughout the tournament, with the potential matchup only becoming clear late on.
Instead, the outcome was decided without a ball being thrown, bringing an abrupt and uneasy conclusion to the classification clash.
All relevant parties have been contacted for comment, including World Aquatics – their statement can be viewed in full below:
“Ukraine voluntarily chose not to start its scheduled 7th/8th place classification match against Neutral Athletes B (NAB) at the World Aquatics Men’s Water Polo World Cup Division 2 tournament in Malta. The match was scheduled for 15:00 CET on 13 April 2026.
In accordance with World Aquatics Competition Regulations, the match has been recorded as a 5–0 result in favour of NAB.”
This is a developing story, and the article is subject to revisions as further information becomes available.
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