In Chengdu, European teams France, Great Britain, and Croatia secured the final three qualification spots for the women’s tournament. One week earlier in Podgorica, Italy, Montenegro, and Romania claimed the last three places in the men’s competition.

Image Source: Ashleigh Johnson of Team United States celebrates after winning gold at the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 (Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)

The United States, the top qualifier from the Americas in the women’s competition, enters Singapore 2025 as the reigning world champion. On the men’s side, defending world champion Croatia returns to the global stage.

Image Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Spain’s women and Serbia’s men—Olympic gold medallists at Paris 2024—earned early qualification through the World Aquatics Competition Regulations.

Qualified Teams by Region and Event

Image Source: Team Spain celebrates winning Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Quotas

Event

Women

Men

3

Olympic Games

Spain, Australia, Netherlands

Serbia, Croatia, United States

3

World Cup

Greece, Hungary, Italy

Spain, Greece, Hungary

3

Europe

France, Great Britain, Croatia

Italy, Montenegro, Romania

2

Americas

United States, Argentina

Brazil, Canada

2

Asia

China, Japan

Japan, China

1

Oceania

New Zealand

Australia

1

Africa

South Africa

South Africa

1

Host

Singapore

Singapore

 

Water Polo Tournament Draw | 7 May in Budapest

The official team draw for both tournaments will take place on 7 May at 17:00 CET at World Aquatics’ interim headquarters in Budapest, Hungary. World Aquatics will live stream the tournament draw. 

Men’s Team Seedings

Image Source: Spain - the 2025 Men's World Cup titlists- here celebrating winning gold at the World Aquatics Championships - Budapest 2022 (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Following the Men’s World Cup Final in Podgorica, team seedings for the men’s tournament have been finalised. Spain claimed the World Cup title after a thrilling 16–14 victory over Greece in the final, while Hungary—world champions in 2023—defeated Croatia 18–15 to secure bronze.

Based on recent results and competition rankings, the 16 men’s teams have been seeded into four levels as follows:

  • ML1:  Serbia (SRB), Croatia (CRO), United States (USA), Spain (ESP)
  • ML2:  Greece (GRE), Hungary (HUN), Italy (ITA), Brazil (BRA)
  • ML3:  Montenegro (MNE), Romania (ROU), Australia (AUS), Canada (CAN)
  • ML4:  Japan (JPN), China (CHN), South Africa (RSA), Singapore (SGP)

Women’s Team Seedings

Image Source: Rebecca Parkes of Team Hungary gathers the ball against team Italy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Following the Women’s World Cup Final in Chengdu, team seedings for the women’s tournament have been finalised. Greece claimed a historic first-ever World Cup title after defeating Hungary 13-9 in the gold medal match. The Netherlands—the women's world champions in 2023—defeated the 2024 Olympic gold medallists of Spain 10-8 to secure the 2024 World Cup bronze.

Based on recent results and competition rankings, the 16 women’s teams have been seeded into four levels as follows:

  • WL1: Spain (ESP), Australia (AUS), Netherlands (NED), Greece (GRE)
  • WL2: Hungary (HUN), Italy (ITA), France (FRA), United States (USA)
  • WL3: Great Britain (GBR), Croatia (CRO), New Zealand (NZL), Argentina (ARG)
  • WL4: China (CHN), Japan (JPN), South Africa (RSA), Singapore (SGP)