The 2025 World Aquatics Women’s Water Polo World Cup Division I kicks off this week in Alexandroupolis, Greece, featuring eight of the world’s best teams.

With six qualifying spots for April’s Super Finals up for grabs, the tournament promises intense competition as teams hugely rotate their rosters at this, the beginning of a new Olympic cycle, and ahead of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore this July.

A Star-Studded Line-Up

The United States, reigning world champions and triple Olympic gold medalists, lead the pack in Group A alongside Olympic champions Spain, 2024 World silver medalists Hungary, and hosts Greece, ranked seventh globally.

Group B features a similarly formidable lineup: 2024 Olympic silver medalists Australia, 2023 World champions Netherlands, sixth-ranked Italy, and rising stars Israel, who made their World Cup debut in 2023.

Groupings

Group A: United States of America, Spain, Hungary, Greece
Group B: Italy, Australia, Netherlands, Israel

Competition Format

The six-day event begins with three days of group matches, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and classification rounds. The top six teams will move on to the finals series in April.

A Rich History of Competition

The World Aquatics Women’s Water Polo World Cup boasts a storied history, with the Netherlands as the most successful nation, holding eight titles. However, the United States has dominated in recent years, winning the last four editions and five titles overall.

All-Time Medal Tally Highlights:

• Netherlands: 8 titles, 4 silvers, 1 bronze
• United States: 5 titles, 5 silvers, 1 bronze
• Australia: 3 titles, 3 silvers, 5 bronzes
• Hungary: 1 title, 1 silver, 3 bronzes

Italy, Spain, and Israel are also notable contenders, with Spain looking to build on their bronze from 2024 and Israel seeking to improve on their seventh-place finish in 2023.

New Rules in Play

This year’s tournament will debut several new rules:

• Field of Play: Matches will now take place on a 25.60m x 20.0m field.
• Team Composition: Rosters include 12 field players and two goalkeepers, with the option to play without a goalkeeper after the start of the match.
• Possession Time: Women’s matches have a maximum possession time of 30 seconds.
• Coaches’ Challenges: Each coach may challenge one referee-initiated call per match, including violent actions, penalty fouls, and other critical decisions.

What to Watch For

As teams recalibrate after retirements and roster shifts post-Paris 2024, the tournament provides a glimpse into the future of women’s water polo. With younger players stepping into key roles, this event will be pivotal in determining team dynamics and readiness for July’s World Aquatics Championships.

Day 1 Match Schedule

• 15:00: Group A – USA vs. Spain
• 17:00: Group B – Israel vs. Italy
• 19:00: Group A – Greece vs. Hungary
• 21:00: Group B – Netherlands vs. Australia