World Aquatics has confirmed the list of the qualified teams and the venues for both the 2023 World Water Polo U20 Championships.
We already reported the men’s tournament had been awarded to the Romanian Water Polo Federation, while the women’s championships would take place in Portugal. Still, the host cities were yet to be confirmed by the national federations and World Aquatics.
Romania’s capital of Bucharest and the neighboring city of Otopeni will jointly host the World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships 2023 from 10-18 June 2023.
The historic riverfront city of Coimbra, Portugal, is slated to hold the World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championships 2023 from 2-10 September 2023, World Aquatics announced today.
Coimbra is the capital city of Portugal’s central region.
Portugal will host the World U20 Women’s Championships for the third time, after Funchal in Madeira Island hosted the tournament in 2019 and Porto held the event in 2007.
Romania has never been a host of the World Junior Championships. Still, this country has experience organizing significant water polo tournaments. The 2006 European Men’s U19 Championships and the 2010 World Men’s Cup were some of the big water polo events that took place in Romania. Both tournaments were held in Oradea.
Serbia is the defending champion for men. Two years ago, the FINA World U20 Championships took place in Prague. Serbia beat Italy in the final (10:8). Montenegro finished in 3rd place, ahead of Hungary, Croatia, Spain, Greece, USA, etc.
Netanya (Israel) was the host of the previous Women’s U20 Championships in 2021. Spain won gold, defeating Greece in the final (10:5). Hungary took home bronze, Italy finished in 4th place, etc.
World Aquatics announced the list of qualified teams.
Qualified Teams, Men
Europe: Serbia, Spain, Hungary, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Montenegro.
Asia: Japan, Kazakhstan, Iran, China.
Americas: Brazil, United States of America, Argentina, Canada, Peru.
Africa: South Africa
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
Qualified teams, women
Europe: Spain, Hungary, Greece, Netherlands, Italy, France, Portugal, Israel
Asia: Japan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, India
Americas: United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Chile
Africa: South Africa.
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.
