The draw for the 19th FINA World Championships has been held in Budapest this evening.
The tournament for the female teams starts on June 20. The final and the other matches for the final standings are scheduled for July 2. The men’s tournament will be held between June 21 and July 3.
Men
Group A (Budapest): Hungary,Brazil, Montenegro, Georgia.
Group B (Debrecen): Japan, Greece, Germany, Croatia.
Group C (Sopron): Italy, Canada, South Africa, Spain.
Group D (Szeged): Kazakhstan, USA, Australia, Serbia.
The group winners will advance to the quarterfinals, while the 2nd-placed and 3rd-placed teams will play in the cross-over round (eighth-finals).
Crossover round (June 27) – Match 1: 2A – 3B, Match 2: 3A – 2B, Match 3: 2C – 3D, Match 4: 3C – 2D
Quarterfinals(June 29) – QF1: 1A – winner Match 3, QF2: 1B – winner match 4, QF3: 1C – winner match 1, QF4: 1D – winner match 2
Semifinals: (July 1) winners QF1 – QF2, winners QF3 – QF4.
The tournament ends on July 3.
Already in the group stage of the men’s tournament, we will see a replay of the 2019 World Championships final. Reigning champion Italy and Spain, which won silver in Gwangju, have been drawn into the same group. This is maybe the toughest group. South Africa is an underdog, but neither Italy nor Spain can underestimate Canada, the team that might surprise favorites.
An absolute highlight of Group A will be an encounter between host Hungary and Montenegro. These two teams have met many times in the last few years. Their match in the semifinals of the 2020 European Championships was quite exciting. Hungary emerged as a winner and won the title later, while Montenegro clinched the bronze medal. Brazil and Georgia probably won’t be able to endanger Hungary and Montenegro, but it’s hard to predict which of these two teams is closer to the third place.
After a historic success – silver at the Tokyo Olympics, Greece will have a few demanding tasks in Group B. Of course, the derby will be the game Croatia – Greece. These two teams faced off in Athens a few months ago – Croatia recorded a narrow victory in the World League. Germany, with a new head coach Petar Porobic, might be a dangerous rival for the favorites. Japan’s capabilities are an enigma for all opponents.
Olympic champion Serbia is the only male European team that will play against three non-European sides in the group phase. However, this doesn’t mean that the Serbs will cruise to 1st place. Team USA, led by former Serbia coach Dejan Udovicic, has grown year after year. Australia is a squad that all rivals have to respect. Kazakhstan is the best Asian team and has a Serbian head coach – Nemanja Knezevic. It’s hard to expect that Kazakhstan will battle for 1st place, but 3rd position isn’t unreachable.
The matches of the crossover round, quarterfinals, semifinals, final, and games for 3rd, 5th and 7th place will be played in Budapest at the Alfred Hajos Swimming Complex. The games for the rankings 9th – 16th will be staged in Szeged.
Women
Group A (Budapest): Italy, Hungary, Canada, Colombia.
Group B (Debrecen): USA, Netherlands, South Africa, Argentina.
Group C (Sopron): Brazil, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Australia.
Group D (Szeged): Thailand, France, Greece, Spain.
The group winners will advance to the quarterfinals, while the 2nd-placed and 3rd-placed teams will play in the cross-over round (eighth-finals).
Crossover round (June 26)- Match 1: 2A – 3B, Match 2: 3A – 2B, Match 3: 2C – 3D, Match 4: 3C – 2D
Quarterfinals (June 28)- QF1: 1A – winner Match 3, QF2: 1B – winner match 4, QF3: 1C – winner match 1, QF4: 1D – winner match 2
Semifinals: (June 30): winners QF1 – QF2, winners QF3 – QF4.
The tournament ends on July 2.
As for women, the groups are more or less balanced
Host Hungary, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, will have Italy as the biggest rival in a battle for 1st place. Canada is a serious contender for 3rd place. Colombia, one of the debutants (along with Thailand and Argentina), dreams of surprises.
Team USA, which has dominated the female water polo for years (triple defending Olympic and World champion), will play against Argentina, the Netherlands and South Africa. The Americans and the Dutch are favorites here. South Africa and debutant Argentina are still far from the best female water polo teams.
Australia, which won bronze in 2019, is a heavy favorite in a group with Brazil, Kazakhstan, and neighbors New Zealand.
Two serious medal contenders – Greece and Spain have been drawn into Group D. France and one of the debutants, Thailand aren’t the teams that can enter the race for 1st place in the group.
The matches of the crossover round, quarterfinals, semifinals, final, and games for 3rd, 5th and 7th place will be played in Budapest at the Alfred Hajos Swimming Complex. The games for the rankings 9th – 16th will be staged in Szeged.
