The state of California has become the center of water polo, with the World Men’s Cup Final set to commence in Los Angeles tomorrow, just five days after the conclusion of the World Cup Final for women in Long Beach.
The USA will host seven European teams: Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, and Germany.
Day 1 (June 30), quarterfinals: Germany – Spain (13:00 local time – 22:00 CET), Italy – Romania (15:00 – 00:00), Hungary – Greece (17:00 – 02:00), Serbia – USA (19:00 – 04:00)
2023 World Cup Final (Los Angeles, June 30 – July 2), preview
Two teams can be considered defending champions.
The competition is called the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup. Therefore is linked to the former FINA Water Polo World Cup that was held from 1979 until 2018 (initially, it was played in odd years. In the 21st century, it was staged every four years). The last FINA World Cup was won by Hungary in Berlin in 2018. Australia, which didn’t qualify for Los Angeles finished 2nd, bronze went to Serbia.
But let’s take a look from another angle. The newly shaped World Cup replaces the World League, which was defuncted after the 2022 edition when Italy took gold.
The World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup is set to become an annual event, similar to the World League, although it probably not be possible to hold it next year due to a packed schedule.
The tournament format has been revamped, with teams qualifying through two divisions. However, the competition structure is more similar to the World League than the previous FINA World Cup. The qualifications for the former FINA Cup were the World Championships and continental championships.
But it does not matter who will defend the title or whether there is a current champion.
What matters most is the opportunity for the top two qualifying teams to advance to the 2024 World Championships in Doha. Additionally, most participating teams will use the upcoming LA tournament to improve their shape for the World Championships in Fukuoka, which will commence two weeks later. With the exception of Germany and Romania, all teams will be present in Fukuoka.
I The USA will be the host of the World Cup for the fourth time- 1981 (Long Beach), 1983 (Malibu), 1995 (Atlanta) and 2023 (Los Angeles). The Amercans didn’t win a medal in the previous three tournaments held in their country.
There are several favorites. Only Croatia and Montenegro are absent from the “Big European Seven.”
Easier tasks for the finalists of the 2022 Worlds
Spain and Italy, the reigning world champion and the silver medalist at the previous Worlds in Budapest, respectively, will have easier tasks in the quarterfinals. They deserved it by winning top spots in their groups in Division 1.
Their rivals, Romania and Germany, cruised to the World Cup Final through Division 2. But, neither Romania nor Germany had too demanding matches on their way to Los Angeles.
Francesco Di Fulvio (ITA) and Marc Larumbe (ESP) in the bronze-medal match at the 2022 Europeans. Spain won 7:6 Photo: Total Waterpolo
The Romanians and the Germans, who played in the qualifications for the European Championships last week, will finish their seasons after the World Cup. Both teams will give it their all in hopes of making a strong impression at the end of the season. However, anything but (convincing) victories from the 2022 World Championships finalists would surely come as a surprise.
I The home team won the World Men’s Cup just once. It happened in Duisburg in 1985, when West Germany won gold.
Derby of the quarterfinals
The highlight of the quarterfinals is, undoubtedly, the clash between Hungary and Greece, the Olympic medalists. Since Greece defeated Hungary in the semifinals of the Tokyo Games (9:6), the two teams have met just once. It happened in the qualifications for the 2022 World League. Hungary recorded a 14:13 victory. But, it was a match in the 5th-8th place classification. Tomorrow’s duel is the first that has importance since Tokyo.
4 Hungary is the record-holder of the FINA World Cup with four gold medals (1979, 1995, 1999, 2018). Serbia won two golds as an independent country and three as a part of Yugoslavia
Both teams qualified for the Final Eight after thrilling endings in their groups. Hungary finished 3rd in Zagreb, and Greece 2nd in Podgorica.
Zsolt Varga with the players Photo: Total Waterpolo
Since the Tokyo Olympics, both teams have changed slightly. But, the most significant change is a new head coach on Hungary’s bench. After a successful debut at the European Championships, where Hungary won silver, Zsolt Varga will try to add another trophy to the rich Hungarian treasury. For the first time since his appointment as Hungary’s head coach, Zsolt Varga can count on Denes Varga, who returns to the team.
Konstantinos Genidounias (GRE) Photo by Krsto Vulovic/WPF of Montenegro
Greece, which won bronze at the 2022 World Championships, can also go high with many aces playing in the best European clubs. Head coach Theodoros Vlachos has brought the team to the circle of heavy favorites in all competitions.
Anyway, a lot of excitement is guaranteed.
USA vs. Serbia, once again
Last but not least duel in the quarterfinals is the clash between the hosts USA and Serbia. The teams are familiar with each other, having played numerous times in both friendly and official matches over the past two years. Team USA has been coached by Serbia’s former head coach Dejan Udovicic for over a decade.
I World Cup is the only World Aquatics’ (FINA) water polo competition in which the male team of the USA triumphed. The Americans won gold medals in Barcelona in 1991 and in Athens in 1997
Serbia’s new head coach Uros Stevanovic debuted on the bench in December in a friendly match against the USA in the New Year tournament in Texas. Serbia lost that game, but it took revenge a few days after. The Serbs will play without one of the superstars, Dusan Mandic. However, he wasn’t on the team in the Texas tour either. So, both teams will have similar rosters to the Texas tour.
Chase Dodd (USA) and Marko Radulovic (SRB) Photo by Slobodan Sandic/VSS
Serbia started a long summer with the qualifications for the Europeans. They recorded three convincing wins, but, as Stevanovic said,the performances weren’t as they should be. Team USA’s advantage may be an experience. The Americans have been together for a long. They played very well in Division 1. On the other side, Serbia’s new team is still forming. It has had ups and downs in both competitions this season (WC Division 1 and European qualifiers).
Team USA has to prove itself in the home ground. Serbia wants to test its capabilities and start returning to the semifinals (where it hasn’t been since the Olympic Games).
Schedule
Friday, June 30
QF1: Germany – Spain (13:00 local time – 22:00 CET)
QF2: Italy – Romania (17:00 – 02:00)
QF3:Hungary – Greece (15:00 – 00:00)
QF4: Serbia – USA (19:00 – 04:00)
Saturday July 1
Semifinals 5th – 8th: Losers QF1 – QF4 (13:00 – 22:00)
Semifinals 5th – 8th: Losers QF2 – QF3 (15:00 – 00:00)
Semifinals: Winners QF1 – QF 4 (17:00 – 02:00)
Semifinals: Winners QF2 – QF 3 (19: 00 – 04:00)
Sunday, July 2
7th-place match (13:00 – 22:00)
5th-place match (15:00 – 00:00)
Bronze-medal match(17:00 – 02:00)
Final (19:00 – 04:00)
History
FINA WORLD CUP, ALL WINNERS
1979 (Belgrade and Rijeka, Yugoslavia): Hungary, 1981 (Long Beach, USA): USSR, 1983 (Malibu, USA): USSR, 1985 (Duisburg, FR Germany): West Germany, 1987 (Thessaloniki, Greece): Yugoslavia, 1989 (West Berlin, FR Germany): Yugoslavia, 1991 (Barcelona, Spain): USA, 1993 (Athens, Greece): Italy, 1995 (Atlanta, USA): Hungary, 1997 (Athens, Greece): USA, 1999 (Sydney, Australia): Hungary, 2002 (Belgrade. Yugoslavia): Russia, 2006 (Budapest, Hungary): Serbia and Montenegro, 2010 (Oradea, Romania): Serbia, 2014 (Almaty, Kazakhstan): Serbia, 2018 (Berlin, Germany): Hungary
WORLD LEAGUE, ALL WINNERS
2002: Russia, 2003: Hungary, 2004: Hungary, 2005: Serbia and Montenegro, 2006: Serbia and Montenegro, 2007: Serbia, 2008: Serbia, 2009: Montenegro, 2010: Serbia, 2011: Serbia, 2012: Croatia, 2013: Serbia, 2014: Serbia, 2015: Serbia, 2016; Serbia, 2017: Serbia, 2018: Montenegro, 2019: Serbia, 2020/21: Montenegro, 2022: Italy.
More articles about the World Cup and the former World League
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