2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals: Schedule, Venue, Teams, Everything You Need to Know

The 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals are set to take place from Wednesday, 22 July to Sunday, 26 July 2026 in Sydney, Australia. Both the men’s and women’s gold medal matches will headline the final day on Sunday, 26 July.This prestigious international tournament brings together the world’s top water polo nations for an intense five-day battle.

When is 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals?

The 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals will be held from Wednesday, 22 July 2026 to Sunday, 26 July 2026. The tournament culminates on Sunday, 26 July 2026, with both the women’s and men’s gold medal matches taking place on the final day.

Where is 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals?

The 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals are being hosted at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in Sydney, Australia. This historic venue previously hosted water polo events during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and remains one of the finest aquatic facilities in the world.

How to Watch 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals?

You can watch the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals through the following options:

Global Streaming

The entire tournament is available live and on-demand via the official World Aquatics Recast Channel. Viewers can purchase flexible passes (1-day, single-match, or full tournament access).Australia

All 24 men’s and women’s matches will be broadcast live and exclusive on Kayo Sports.

2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals teams list

The 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals will feature eight men's and eight women's national teams competing in Sydney, Australia, from July 22–26.The qualified teams for the men's and women's tournaments are:

Men's Teams

Australia (Host)SpainItalyGreeceHungaryCroatiaMontenegroGeorgia

Women's Teams

Australia (Host)United States of AmericaThe NetherlandsSpainItalyHungaryRussiaChina

2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals Schedule

(All times in AEST)

Thursday, July 23, 2026 – Men’s Quarter-Finals

15:00 – Italy vs Georgia (Quarter-Finals Match 2)

16:45 – Greece vs Montenegro (Quarter-Finals Match 3)

18:30 – Spain vs Australia (Quarter-Finals Match 1)

20:15 – Hungary vs Croatia (Quarter-Finals Match 4)

Friday, July 24, 2026 – Classification Matches

15:00 – Loser Match 1 vs Loser Match 4 (Classification 5-8th Place – Match 5)

16:45 – Loser Match 2 vs Loser Match 3 (Classification 5-8th Place – Match 6)

Saturday, July 25, 2026 – Semi-Finals & Classification

15:00 – Classification Match 7-8th Place (Match 9)

16:45 – Classification Match 5-6th Place (Match 10)

18:30 – Semi-Final 1 (Match 7)

20:15 – Semi-Final 2 (Match 8)

Sunday, July 26, 2026 – Medal Day

14:30 – Bronze Medal Match (Match 11)

18:00 – Gold Medal Match (Men’s Final – Match 12)

The Gold Medal Matches will be played on Sunday, 26 July, with the men’s final scheduled for 18:00 AEST.A total prize pool of $695,000 USD is at stake, and the top three teams in both divisions will qualify for the 2027 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.

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