Several weeks remain until the start of the men’s water polo tournament at the World Championships in Singapore (July 12 – 24).
The top teams are currently in the early phase of their preparations. The club season concluded on June 1, and during the first two weeks of preparation, all teams have concentrated on physical training. However, some have played their first test matches in the last several days.
Head coaches, who still have many players on their preparation rosters, combined tactics and tested many players during the initial matches. Some of the superstars joined the preparations later than their teammates due to their commitments to their clubs. Additionally, some players will take a break during the summer.
It is clear that none of the medal contenders have yet revealed their true strength or reached the desired shape; it’s still too early in the process. Perhaps the most important purpose of these matches was to give teams an opportunity to adapt to the new rules.
Regardless, there have been some interesting games.
Italy beats Hungary and Greece
Italy played two matches last week, marking their first games after a six-month suspension. The “Settebello” faced Hungary in Naples, winning narrowly 13:12 (3:1, 5:2, 2:4, 3:5). Guerrato was the top scorer for Italy with three goals, while Krisztian Manhercz scored three for Hungary. Italy will be without goalkeeper Marco Del Lungo this summer, and Hungary’s left-handed goal scorer, Gergo Zalanki, is taking a break from the national team in the post-Olympic year to play in the Maltese Summer League.
A few days later, the Italians defeated Greece in an away friendly match in Larissa, with a final score of 16:10 (5:3, 3:2, 3:3, 5:2). Giacomo Cannella stood out for Italy, scoring six goals. Greece is missing Angelos Vlachopoulos, who is also competing in the Maltese League, like Zalanki.
Konstantin Kharkov (CRO) and Vendel Vigvari (HUN) Photo CRO WP (Croatian Water Polo Federation)
After the defeat in Naples, Hungary visited Croatia. It played against the World champions in Rijeka and recorded a 14:11 (4:4, 5:3, 3:2, 2:2) victory. Vince Vigvari and Adam Nagy scored three goals each for Hungary, but the game’s top scorer was Luka Bukic, who found Hungary’s net four times.
Serbia ahead of Romania, France, and Netherlands in Sabac
Serbia hosted Romania, France, and the Netherlands at a three-day “Serbia 2025” tournament in Sabac.
The teams weren’t at the same level of shape during the tournament. The hosts and the Romanians are preparing for the World Championships, where they will be in the same group during the first stage. Meanwhile, the French and the Dutch teams have completed their summer seasons in terms of official competitions. Their main focus this summer was the qualifications for the 2026 European Championships, which ended on Wednesday, and both teams successfully secured their spots for the Belgrade tournament.
Photo by Water Polo Federation of Serbia
Serbia was a heavy favorite and won all three games, and it recorded the most convincing victory on Day 1 in the match against Romania (17:8). Serbia won’t play in Singapore with the same team that won the Olympic gold. Nemanja Ubovic isn’t among the candidates this time, while Nikola Dedovic got injured. Dusan Mandic, who missed the first part of the preparations in Kragujevac, joined the team in Sabac and played in the third match, scoring three goals in a 20:14 victory over the Netherlands.
Romania won 2nd, France 3rd place, while the Netherlands finished at the bottom of the table.
Day 1: Serbia – Romania 17:8, France – Netherlands 17:16, Day 2: Serbia – France 16:13, Romania – Netherlands 14:12, Day 3: Serbia – Netherlands 20:14, Romania – France 14:13.
Standings: 1. Serbia 9 pts, 2. Romania 6, 3. France 3, 4. Netherlands 0.
Australia vs. USA 2:1
The best non-European teams, the USA and Australia faced off in a three-match series in California.
The series was opened in Walnut. Team USA won the first game 13:12 (1:4, 4:3, 5:0, 3:5). Ryder Dodd scored a winner with less than one second left.
Ryder Dodd, who scored five goals in the first game, didn’t play in the following two matches because he joined the U20 national team, which is competing at the World Championships in Zagreb.
The Australians avenged their defeat in Walnut with a narrow victory of 13:12 (3:1, 4:5, 5:5, 1:1) in San Juan Capistrano. Maksimovic led the scoring for Australia with four goals, while Daube and Vavic matched that output for the home team.
The series concluded with a match in Orange, where Australia achieved another win – 14:11 (3:1, 4:5, 5:5, 1:1). Both Maksimovic and Berehulak scored three goals each for Australia, while Daube and Saveljic found the net four times for Team USA.
Both teams had several debutants on their rosters. A few of the USA’s Olympic bronze medalists, including captain Ben Hallock, did not participate in a three-match series against Australia.
