The USA will play with a “European team” at the tournament of Group A of the World Cup Division 1 in Zagreb (March 8 – 14)
Head coach Dejan Udovicic called up 18 players for the tournament in Zagreb, and 13 are members of European clubs this season. They are headed by the top scorer of the 2022 World Championships Alex Bowen (Noisy-le-Sec), Ben Hallock (Pro Recco), Hannes Daube (Marseille), Max Irving (Telimar), etc.
Team USA won silver in the last edition of the World League, held in the previous year. The World Cup is a replacement for the World League.
Almost all players who won silver in Strasbourg last year are on the roster for Zagreb: Weinberg, Turner, Bowen, Daube, Ch. Dodd, Ehrhrardt, Hallock, Irving, Stevenson, Vavic, Woodhead.
Olympian Drew Holland, Peristeri’s goalkeeper, returned to the team after he missed the World League. Holland played at the World Championships in Budapest, where Team USA finished 6th.
On Day 1 (March 8) of the tournament in Zagreb, Team USA will play against host Croatia. Besides these two teams, Italy, Hungary, France and Japan are in Group A.
Three teams will qualify for the Final, but Team USA is directly qualified as the host. So, besides Team USA, only two teams will advance to the final from the group in Zagreb. The very strong Team USA will be a tough opponent to European powerhouses.
The final tournament will be held in Los Angeles (June 30 – July 2). Eight teams will participate in the World Cup Final (six from Division 1 and two from Division 2)
Team USA’s roster for the tournament in Zagreb
Goalkeepers: Adrian Weinberg (Pride), Jack Turner (Mataro), Drew Holland (Peristeri).
Field players: Tyler Abramson (Posillipo), George Avakian ( University California), Alex Bowen (Noisy-le-Sec), Luca Cupido (Barcelona), Hannes Daube (Marseille), Chase Dodd (Vanguard), Ryder Dodd (Mission WPC), Thomas Dunstan (Pays d’Aix), Jake Ehrhardt (The Olympic Club), Ben Hallock (Pro Recco), Johnny Hooper (Telimar), Max Irving (Telimar), Ben Stevenson (Posillipo), Marko Vavic (Barcelona), Dylan Woodhead (Vouliagmeni).
Coaches will determine their 13-player rosters before each match.
Follow the results and statistics of the World Cup Division 1 on Total Waterpolo Arena
More articles about the World Cup and the former World League
