History continues as World Aquatics releases the official Men’s Water Polo World Rankings for a second year, as Spain, the reigning world champions, comes into the 2026 Water Polo World Cup season as the current No.1 team in the world.
LAUSANNE (SUI) – Fresh off their 2025 World Championship title in Singapore, the Spanish men’s water polo team tops the latest World Aquatics Water Polo Rankings.
Spain earned the reigning world champions in a most dramatic fashion as 2022 World Player of the Year Felipe Perrone scored the go-ahead goal in the waning seconds, as Spain went on to win, 15-13, against Hungary. Coming into the 2026 Men’s Water Polo World Cup season, they will be without Perrone, their longtime talisman, who played in 13 consecutive World Aquatics Championships. Spain has plenty of fresh firepower and will likely be led again by Alvaro Granados, the reigning 2025 World Aquatics and European Aquatics Male Water Polo Player of the Year.
“Being ranked No.1 in the world is something we’re proud of, because it reflects the consistency and work this group has put in over several years,” said Granados about Spain currently occupying the top spot in the men’s water polo world rankings. “At the same time, it doesn’t guarantee anything. Every competition starts from zero, and we know the level across international water polo is extremely high. For us, it’s about maintaining our standards, continuing to evolve as a team, and proving ourselves again in the water.”
Spain also enters this year as the defending Men’s Water Polo World Cup champions, defeating the then-world no. 1 Croatia in the semifinals and outlasting Greece, 16-14, in the 2025 World Cup Gold Medal Match.
Coming off their silver medal performance at the 2025 Worlds, third-place finish in the 2025 Men’s Water Polo World Cup, and fourth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hungary enters this year as the world's No.2-ranked men’s water polo programme.
Greece currently sits third in the rankings, just ahead of Serbia, the Paris 2024 Olympic champions, and Croatia, the 2024 men’s water polo world champions.
With Sydney, Australia, set to host the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals from 22-26 July, the home nation Sharks currently rank no.12 in the world.
Where Does Your Favourite Team Rank?
Check out the latest World Aquatics Men’s Water Polo World Rankings here.
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