Three hundred emerging elite water polo players representing 20 junior national teams are set to take to the pool for nine days of competition culminating with the global men’s age-group water polo crown.

Romanian Water Polo Federation President Alexandru Matei conveyed excitement in World Aquatics awarding event-hosting duties to Otopeni and Bucharest.

"I express my joy that Romania will be able to host an event of such scope, in which the best national teams from all over the world will take part. Following the intense dialogue and discussions held in recent months with World Aquatics, we managed to demonstrate that we have all the assets to organise a world championship tournament at the highest standards and under the best conditions."

Image Source: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

A former water polo player that represented Romania at the London 2012 Olympic Games and two editions of the World Aquatics Championships, Matei noted the impact holding this tournament would have for the sport – and the country at large. 

"As a former polo player and performance athlete, I am very proud that in this way, sport, and especially Romanian water polo, is bringing Romania's reputation back to the international forefront. We can show all the athletes who have embraced this sport – from children to juniors and to seniors who practice – that Romania is in a position to offer them a perspective for the future."

Serbia comes in as the defending champions, having won in the final over Italy in 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic as Montenegro completed the podium.

World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam expressed excitement for the competition to take place in Romania, and what the country’s hosting this event means for advancing the sport there. 

"The Romanian Polo Federation has shown an increased interest in World Aquatics recently in hosting global aquatics events so we are very interested in restarting a much closer relationship for the events of 2023 and those to come. We know the whole polo community will be in good hands and will have an extraordinary experience while competing in Romania.”

Image Source: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

Qualified Teams 

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
Image Source: World Aquatics

History of the World Aquatics Men's U20 Water Polo Championships

Previously known as the FINA World Men’s Junior Water Polo Championships, Istanbul (TUR) held the event's first event edition in 2001. Subsequent editions of the biennial tournament followed in Napoli (ITA) in 2003; Mar de Plata (ARG) in 2005; Long Beach, California (USA) in 2007; Sibenik (CRO) in 2009; Volos (GRE) in 2001; Szombathely (HUN) in 2013; Almaty (KAZ) in 2015; Belgrade (SRB) in 2017; Kuwait City (KUW) in 2019; and Prague (CZE) in 2021.