The wait is over, and just like that, another World Championships is upon us.
It doesn’t seem like it was long ago since the last World Championships, and that’s because it wasn’t. Only one year separates this competition from the previous edition held last summer in Budapest, Hungary. If you think that’s a short turnaround, the next one is in only seven months’ time…
As for Fukuoka 2023, these World Championships have been postponed twice due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, making them highly anticipated. Given the unique nature of the Tokyo Olympics held in the summer of 2021, this World Championships serves as a sort of a re-run of that event – especially for the home Japanese fans who were denied the chance to witness World Class water polo on their doorstep due to the Coronavirus.
W Livescore statistics from the women’s competition are available here
Fukuoka 2023 marks the 16th edition of the women’s competition, and interestingly, Japan’s 6th largest city was also the host of the 5th edition of the tournament. Over the past 22 years, the women’s game has undergone significant changes, including the expansion of the competition to 16 teams. Even given Russia’s extended absence, this tournament features the highest quality of competition ever seen in the history of the competition.
One notable difference from ‘Fukuoka part 1’ is that Team USA failed to medal in that competition, losing to Canada in the bronze medal match. At the time of the 2001 World Championships, the USA had only achieved two bronze medals in the competition’s brief history. However, they bounced back in Barcelona 2003, defeating Italy in the final and securing their first World title. Subsequently, they went on to win 6 out of the next 9 competitions, including a remarkable 4 in a row between 2015 and 2022.
The venue is the impressive Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall B
The achievements of the USA women’s national team on the international stage, not just in the World Championships, are sometimes under-appreciated. They are three-time Olympic Champions (2012, 2016, and 2020) and have emerged victorious in 11 out of the 13 World League Super Final competitions held between 2009 and 2022. Undoubtedly, this team is the most dominant in water polo history and one of the most dominant in the history of all sports.
The Game Changers: 15 Female Players to Watch Out for in Fukuoka
While the journey to becoming the best team in the world has been anything but simple for all those involved in the USA, the equation for Fukuoka ‘part 2’ is simple: If Team USA performs at their best, no other team stands a chance. Although the likes of the Netherlands, Spain, and Hungary, have demonstrated their capability to defeat the USA in the past year, and are serious title contenders, they will need to catch their opponents on an off-day and deliver a near-perfect performance themselves if they are to bring an end to America’s ruthless, formidable, and brilliant World Championship reign.
Team USA, Champions of the world for the fourth successive time. Photo: Orange Pictures
When it comes to medal prospects, there are seven teams that hold strong claims. Among them, the Dutch team stands as Europe’s top challenger to the United States, while the reigning European Champions, Spain, enter this tournament with a genuine point to prove. The Hungarians are seeking revenge from last year and firmly believe they can surpass last year’s showing. Italy, Greece, and Australia possess the potential to advance deep into any tournament they participate in.
The competition for a top-eight finish is equally intriguing, with Canada prepared to ward off the challenges posed by the emerging nations of Israel, France, China, and Japan.
Tournament Format
Sixteen teams are allocated into four groups, each consisting of four teams. The tournament follows a round-robin format wherein every team competes against all other teams within their respective group. The team that achieves the highest ranking within their group secures an automatic advancement to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, the teams that finish in the second and third positions within their groups proceed to a cross-over round. The winners of the cross-over matches then earn a spot in the quarter-finals. Conversely, the team that finishes at the bottom of their group enters the 13th-16th classification matches.
Crossover round (July 22) – Match 1: 2A – 3B, Match 2: 3A – 2B, Match 3: 2C – 3D, Match 4: 3C – 2D
Quarterfinals (July 24) – QF1: 1A – winner Match 3, QF2: 1B – winner match 4, QF3: 1C – winner match 1, QF4: 1D – winner match 2
Semifinals: (July 26): winners QF1 – QF2, winners QF3 – QF4.
Final Day (July 28)
2023 World Championships, Fukuoka – Women’s Competition Preview
Group A
The first group comprises two former World Champions: the reigning title holders, USA, and the winners of the inaugural competition, Australia, who achieved victory in Madrid back in 1986. Additionally, the group features China, the World League champions of 2013, who have been making significant strides in expanding their national program under the leadership of Charis Pavlidis. Rounding out Group A are the hosts of the 2024 Olympics, France, who are striving to secure a second consecutive top-8 finish before the most significant competition of their careers next summer.
Undoubtedly, the USA is the clear favorite to finish atop the group and advance directly to the quarter-finals. While Australia may pose a challenge for the USA, they are likely to edge out China for second place. The clash between France and China promises to be incredibly intriguing, as both teams believe they have what it takes to advance to the crossovers.
China
World Championships appearances: 9
Best results: 2nd(2011)
Budapest 2022: Withdrew
France
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 7
Best result: 8th (2022)
Budapest 2022: 8th
United States
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 16
Best result: 1st(2001,2005,2007,2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022)
Budapest 2022: 1st
Australia
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 16
Best result: 1st (1986), 2nd (2007 and 2013), 3rd (1998 and 2019)
Budapest 2022: 6th
Maggie Steffens, alongside Maddie Musselman and Rachel Fattal have won four World Championship titles. Photo: Catharyn Hayne
Group B
Group B presents an enticing lineup with two of the world’s top women’s water polo nations, Spain and the Netherlands, going head-to-head on the opening day of the competition. In a shift from recent times, the Dutch team might be seen as favorites to secure the top spot in the group, but their clash with the reigning European Champions will provide a definitive answer.
Making their debut in this year’s competition, Israel enters the tournament with confidence and will be looking to outperform Kazakhstan, who are hoping that their 13th appearance at the World Championships proves not to be unlucky.
Spain
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 12
Best results: 1st (2013), 2nd (2017 and 2019)
Budapest 2022: 5th
Israel
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 1
Best result: N/A
Budapest 2022: Did not qualify
Netherlands
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 16
Best result: 1st (1991), 2nd (1986, 1994, 1998, 2015), 3rd (2022)
Budapest 2022: 3rd
Kazakhstan
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 13
Best result: 8th (2001)
Budapest 2022: 11th
Judith Forca (ESP) was the joint top goal-scorer of the last World Championships. Photo: Catharyn Hayne.
Group C
Group C looks to be a straight shoot-out between Greece and Italy – two European sides who we are yet to see at their best. The Italians probably have a more settled team, but Greece have more than enough grit and quality to defeat the Setterosa – as demonstrated in the 5th place game in the World Cup three weeks ago. Greece haven’t medalled in this competition since winning it back in 2001, while the Italians have found memories of Fukuoka 2001 – where they took gold.
Completing the group are southern hemisphere rivals Argentina and South Africa, two teams with a significant history between them. Both teams were drawn into Group B last year, and Argentina clinched a historic top-12 finish for the first time with a dramatic last-minute winner. The Springboks undoubtedly seek revenge, adding an extra edge to their upcoming meeting in Fukuoka.
Argentina
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 2
Best results: 12th(2022)
Budapest 2022: 12th
Greece
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 13
Best result: 1st (2011)
Budapest 2022: 7th
Italy
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 14
Best result: 1st (1998 and 2001), 2nd (2003), 3rd (1994 and 2015)
Budapest 2022: 4th
South Africa
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 8
Best result: 13th (2022)
Budapest 2022: 13th
Greece and Italy meet in Group C. Photo: Catharyn Hayne.
Group D
Group D presents a highly competitive lineup. Hungary appears poised to secure a spot in the quarter-finals with relative ease, but they will undoubtedly keep a close watch on Canada, who find themselves drawn alongside Hungary once again, just as they were in Budapest last year.
Both Canada and New Zealand achieved top-10 finishes last year, while Japan, who did not participate in Budapest, eagerly anticipates the support of their home crowd and aims to make history by breaking into the top-10 for the first time in their water polo journey.
Canada
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 16
Best results: 2nd (1991 and 2009), 3rd (2001 and 2005)
Budapest 2022: 9th
New Zealand
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 14
Best result: 7th (1991)
Budapest 2022: 10th
Hungary
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 16
Best result: 1st (1994, 2005), 2nd (2001 and 2022)
Budapest 2022: 2nd
Japan
World Championships appearances (including 2023): 6
Best result: 13th (2017 and 20190
Budapest 2022: Withdrew.
Rita Keszthelyi leads Hungary into another World Championship campaign. Photo: Catharyn Hayne.
All medal winners
1986 (Madrid): 1. Australia, 2. Netherlands, 3. United States
1991 (Perth): 1. Netherlands, 2. Canada, 3. United States
1994 (Rome): 1. Hungary, 2. Netherlands, 3. Italy
1998 (Perth): 1. Italy, 2. Netherlands, 3. Australia
2001 (Fukuoka): 1. Italy, 2. Hungary, 3. Canada
2003 (Barcelona): 1. United States, 2. Italy, 3. Russia
2005 (Montreal): 1. Hungary, 2. United States, 3. Canada
2007 (Melbourne): 1. United States, 2. Australia, 3. Russia
2009 (Rome): 1. United States, 2. Canada, 3. Russia
2011 (Shanghai): 1. Greece, 2. China, 3. Russia
2013 (Barcelona): 1. Spain, 2. Australia, 3. Hungary
2015 (Kazan): 1. United States, 2. Netherlands, 3. Italy
2017 (Budapest): 1. United States, 2. Spain, 3. Russia
2019 (Gwangju): 1. United States, 2. Spain, 3. Australia
2022 (Budapest): 1. United States, 2. Hungary, 3. Netherlands
For more news and the schedule about the upcoming Worlds, visit Total Waterpolo’s 2023 World Championships page.
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