From Singapore to Salvador and Zagreb to Malta, the summer of 2025 will be packed with elite international water polo. With major overhauls to the European youth calendar and global tournaments set across four continents, here’s everything you need to know.
World Aquatics U20 Men’s Water Polo Championships
14–21 June • Zagreb, Croatia
Held at the historic SP Mladost pool complex, this 23rd edition brings together 20 teams across six groups. The tournament is split into Division 1 (top 8 teams) and Division 2 (remaining 12), leading to a knockout round for 12 contenders.
Group A: United States, Hungary, Croatia, Montenegro
Group B: Greece, Serbia, Italy, Spain
Group C: Brazil, Germany, South Africa
Group D: Kazakhstan, Iran, New Zealand
Group E: Colombia, Argentina, Australia
Group F: Canada, China, Singapore
Hungary enters as defending champion, and expectations are high for a week of elite youth talent on display.
A New Era for European Age-Group Water Polo
European Aquatics has introduced major structural changes to its youth competitions, replacing the previous U15 and U17 formats with U16 and U18 Championships. The 2025 season also brings a new two-tiered system for men and women, aiming to improve competitiveness and align with global standards.
European U16 Women’s Championships
27 June–3 July • Manisa, Türkiye
Division 1
Group A: Spain, Hungary, Netherlands, Serbia
Group B: Greece, Italy, Croatia, Germany
Division 2
Group C: Türkiye, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France
Group D: Israel, Romania, Ukraine, Malta
European U16 Men’s Championships
7–13 July • Manisa, Türkiye (Elite) & Ljubljana, Slovenia (Division 1)
Elite Division
Sub-Division 1
Group A: Hungary, Serbia, Spain, Türkiye
Group B: Montenegro, Greece, Italy, Croatia
Sub-Division 2
Group C: Malta, Netherlands, Georgia, Moldova
Group D: Germany, Romania, Israel, Poland
Division 1 (Ljubljana)
Group A: Bulgaria, Slovenia, France, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovakia
Group B: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Bosnia & Herzegovina
World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025
11 July–3 August • Singapore
Water polo will be front and center from 11–25 July, with both men’s and women’s tournaments contested at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. The event marks the sport’s World Championship debut in Southeast Asia.
Water University Games – Duisburg 2025
17–27 July • Duisburg, Germany
Hosted at ASC Duisburg, this 10-day tournament will include both men’s and women’s competitions. While details are emerging, this event is expected to gather a mix of international and regional teams, forming part of the European Games-style multi-sport summer programme. Duisburg has a rich aquatic history, and ASC Duisburg is a noted club-level powerhouse in German water polo.
World Aquatics Masters Championships – Singapore 2025
26 July–22 August • Singapore
A global celebration of lifelong sport, with thousands of athletes competing across multiple age brackets. Water polo will feature clubs and amateur teams from around the world.
World Aquatics U20 Women’s Water Polo Championships
10–16 August • Salvador, Brazil
Hosted at the Salvador Aquatic Arena, this 16-nation tournament sees Hungary defend their 2023 title.
Group A: Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Israel
Group B: Hungary, Greece, United States, Italy
Group C: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Croatia
Group D: Canada, South Africa, China, Australia
Matches are free to attend and will be streamed live on World Aquatics platforms.
European U18 Men’s Championships
18–24 August • Oradea, Romania (Elite) & Rio Maior, Portugal (Division 1)
Elite Division
Sub-Division 1
Group A: Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands
Group B: Serbia, Spain, Montenegro, Croatia
Sub-Division 2
Group C: Türkiye, France, Romania, Poland
Group D: Germany, Malta, Georgia, Ukraine
Division 1 (Rio Maior)
Group A: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Moldova
Group B: Bulgaria, Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark
Group C: Israel, Great Britain, Belgium, Austria
Group D: Lithuania, Portugal, Finland
The top two teams in Division 1 will earn promotion to Elite for the 2026/27 cycle.
European U18 Women’s Championships
2–7 September • Gzira, Malta
Division 1
Group A: Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Türkiye
Group B: Spain, Greece, Israel, Croatia
Division 2
Group C: Serbia, Malta, Ireland, Ukraine, Germany
Group D: Slovakia, Great Britain, Romania, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria
Calendar Overview
Calendar Overview
| Dates | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14–21 June | World Aquatics U20 Men’s Championships | Zagreb, Croatia |
| 27 June–3 July | European U16 Women’s Championships | Manisa, Türkiye |
| 7–13 July | European U16 Men’s (Elite & Division 1) | Manisa & Ljubljana |
| 11–25 July | Water Polo – World Aquatics Championships | Singapore |
| 17–27 July | Water Polo Icon Event | Duisburg, Germany |
| 26 July–22 Aug | World Aquatics Masters Championships | Singapore |
| 10–16 August | World Aquatics U20 Women’s Championships | Salvador, Brazil |
| 18–24 August | European U18 Men’s (Elite & Division 1) | Oradea & Rio Maior |
| 2–7 September | European U18 Women’s Championships | Gzira, Malta |
Why These Changes Matter
The European Aquatics overhaul offers several benefits:
- Clearer development pathway from U16 to senior level.
- Tiered competition system provides balanced matchups and promotion incentives.
- Increased visibility for emerging nations aiming to challenge Europe’s elite.
- Alignment with World Aquatics ensures consistency across global calendars.
With over a dozen top-tier events packed into three months, this summer is set to be a defining period for youth and senior water polo alike.
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