The draw for the FINA World Men’s U20 Championships has been conducted.
The Championships will be held in Prague (August 28 – September 5). As we already published, the tournament was moved to the capital of the Czech Republic because Argentina had to give up the organization.
Until the deadline for the entries, 18 national teams confirmed participation – 11 from Europe, three from the American continent, two from Asia, and two from Africa.
The teams are split into four groups (two with five teams and two with four squads).
Greece, the gold-medal winner at the previous World Junior Championships, held in Kuwait, was drawn into the group with Kazakhstan, South Africa, and Montenegro. The Czech Republic’s home team will play against neighbors from Slovakia, Serbia (silver medalist in Kuwait), Spain, and the USA.
Italy and Croatia, which won 3rd and 4th place respectively in Kuwait, were drawn in the same group.
Groups
Group A: Italy, Croatia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Argentina.
Group B: Spain, Serbia, USA, Slovakia, Czech Republic.
Group C: Brazil, Hungary, Germany, Egypt.
Group D: Greece, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Montenegro.
After the group stage, the group winners will advance to the quarterfinals, while 2nd-placed and 3rd-placed teams will face off in the playoffs. The teams ranked 4th and 5th in their groups will play for the classification 13th – 18th place.
A team can bring 15 players to Prague, but each coach will have to select a 13-player roster for the entire tournament. There can be change only in case of a confirmed positive covid case.
Schedule
GROUP STAGE
August 28
Group A: Uzbekistan – Russia, Croatia – Argentina (Italy bye)
Group B: USA – Slovakia, Serbia – Czech Republic. (Spain bye)
Group C: Germany – Egypt. (Brazil and Hungary bye)
Group D: South Africa – Montenegro. (Greece and Kazakhstan bye)
August 29
Group A: Italy – Croatia, Argentina – Uzbekistan (Russia bye)
Group B: Czech Republic – USA, Spain – Serbia (Slovakia bye)
Group C: Brazil – Hungary (Germany and Egypt bye)
Group D: Greece – Kazakhstan (South Africa and Montenegro bye)
August 30
Group A: Russia – Argentina, Uzbekistan – Italy (Croatia bye)
Group B: Slovakia – Czech Republic, USA – Spain (Serbia bye)
Group C: Germany – Brazil (Hungary and Egypt bye)
Group D: South Africa – Greece (Montenegro and Kazakhstan bye)
August 31
Group A: Italy – Russia, Croatia – Uzbekistan (Argentina bye)
Group B: Spain – Slovakia, Serbia – USA (Czech Republic bye)
Group C: Brazil – Egypt, Hungary – Germany
Group D: Greece – Montenegro, Kazakhstan – South Africa.
September 1
Group A: Russia – Croatia, Argentina – Italy (Uzbekistan bye)
Group B: Slovakia – Serbia, Czech Republic – Spain (USA bye)
Group C: Egypt – Hungary (Brazil and Germany bye)
Group D: Montenegro – Kazakhstan (South Africa and Greece bye).
ROAD TO MEDALS
Playoffs (September 2)
2A – 3D (game 45)
2B – 3C (game 46)
3A – 2D (game 47)
3B – 2C (game 48)
Quarterfinals (September 3)
1A – winner game 46 (game 55)
1B – winner game 45 (game 56)
1C – winner game 47 (game 57)
1D – winner game 48 (game 58)
Semifinals (September 4)
Winners of games 55 – 57
Winners of games 56 – 58
Final day (September 5)
Matches for places 1st – 8th
Kuwait 2019
Final standings of the 2019 World U20 Championships: 1. Greece, 2.Serbia, 3. Italy, 4. Croatia, 5. Spain, 6. Montenegro, 7. USA, 8. Japan, 9. Hungary, 10. Canada, 11.Australia, 12. New Zealand, 13. Russia, 14. South Africa, 15. Egypt, 16. China, 17. Brazil, 18. Uzbekistan (Kuwait and Iran were disqualified)
