With World Aquatics having already announced Sydney, Australia, as the host for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s World Aquatics Water Polo Finals, countries now have certainty about how they can claim their place amongst the eight-team fields that will play for the year’s most coveted global title in the sport.

Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia’s largest city, will hold both tournaments from 22-26 July 2026 at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre – the same venue that the Aussie Stingers captured the first-ever women’s water polo Olympic gold medal in 2000.

There’s more than the 2026 World Cup title on the line in Sydney. The top three men’s and women’s teams from the 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals will automatically qualify for the World Aquatics Championships – Budapest 2027.

Women’s Division 1 Tournament | Rotterdam Tabbed 2026 Host

From 1–6 May, Rotterdam will host the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Division 1 tournament, as the Netherlands aims to secure a top seed in the World Cup Finals with its 2023 world champion team.

Greece, the reigning world champions and 2025 World Cup winners, headlines a strong field of eight nations competing for six places in the Finals. In addition to Greece and the Netherlands, the Division 1 line-up features Hungary, Spain, Australia, Italy, the United States, and Japan.

Rotterdam most recently hosted a major international event in 2021, when it staged the Men’s Water Polo Olympic Qualification Tournament for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Netherlands captain Sabrina van der Sloot welcomed the news of Rotterdam’s hosting the women’s Division 1 tournament.

“Competing in Rotterdam will be a special moment for our team. Playing a major international event in front of our home crowd gives us energy. It also reminds us of the responsibility we have to represent Dutch water polo at its best. Division 1 brings together the world's strongest teams, including the reigning champions, so every match will demand our full focus. We’re proud to welcome the world to the Netherlands, and we’re ready for the challenge.”

Women’s Division 2 Tournament | Malta to Host 2026 Qualifier

Two teams will earn places in the Women’s Water Polo World Cup Finals through the Division 2 tournament, which will take place from 21–26 April in Malta. The country is set to host its fourth World Aquatics event, following the Men’s U16 Water Polo Championships in 2024 and the Men’s Water Polo Development Trophy in 2017. This year’s women’s tournament will also be held two weeks after Malta stages the Men’s Division 2 qualifier, marking back-to-back international events for the host nation.

At the 2025 Women’s Division 2 tournament in Istanbul, Japan used a decisive 8–1 third-quarter surge to rally past China for the title, while Germany edged Great Britain, 12–11, in the bronze medal match.

Men’s Division 1 Tournament | Alexandroupolis to Host 2026 Qualifier for World Cup Finals

Eight men’s teams will compete in Alexandroupolis, Greece, from 6–12 April for places in the 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals. The northern Aegean coastal city previously hosted the Women’s Water Polo World Cup Division 1 tournament in 2025.

Spain enters the tournament as two-time defending World Cup champions, having edged Greece 16–14 in last year’s final.

Greek national team captain Konstantinos Genidounias recalled last year’s final when commenting on Alexandroupolis hosting the men’s Division 1 tournament.

“Hosting the Division 1 tournament in Alexandroupolis is a great honour for Greek water polo. Our team knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, and after last year’s World Cup final against Spain, we are determined to give everything in our home waters,” Genidounias said. “The support of our fans will make this tournament even more special, and we are ready to fight for every match on the road to the World Cup Finals.”

Joining Greece and Spain in the Men’s Division 1 tournament for the six tickets to the Water Polo World Cup Finals are  Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, the United States, and the Netherlands.

Men’s Division 2 Tournament | Malta to Host Qualification Event for 2026 Finals

Two teams will earn places in the Men’s Water Polo World Cup Finals at the Division 2 tournament, scheduled for 7–12 April in Malta. At last year’s Men’s Division 2 tournament in Istanbul, the Netherlands defeated Germany 11–9 in the final, while China overcame Iran 12–11 in the bronze medal match.

Editor's Note: The World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup was previously known as the FINA World League Super Finals until 2023. The Water Polo World Cup is traditionally an annual international series of water polo tournaments.