Triple and defending champion Hungary will be out to maintain its dominance of this age group since it was initiated in Perth, Australia in 2012 when the 2026 edition starts in Rio Maior, Portugal on Saturday.
Hungary has won the last two crowns and been on the podium for every edition, claiming three gold, a silver and two bronze. So, it promises to be a good week for the Magyars if they can maintain their terrific reputation at this level.
20 Nations, Six Groups
A total of 20 nations qualified for this year's championship, divided into two divisions. The eight highest-ranked nations in the World Aquatics Men's U18 Water Polo Rankings — Spain, Hungary, China, Montenegro, United States of America, Croatia, Italy and Serbia — were placed in Division 1, filling Groups A and B with four teams apiece. The remaining 12 qualified nations make up Division 2, distributed across Groups C through F, with three teams in each group.
Hungary headlines a fearsome Group A, placed alongside fellow top-eight nations Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia — a group that reads like a who's who of European water polo. Hungary claimed gold at the last edition in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2024, with Serbia taking silver and Montenegro bronze.
All three podium finishers from 2024 find themselves in the same group, guaranteeing blockbuster encounters from the opening day of competition.
Group B brings together the remaining four Division 1 nations — China, Spain, the United States of America and Italy — four sides with the ambition and quality to challenge for a medal come the final weekend.
Portugal, Argentina, Canada Set For Group F Showdown
For the host nation, the draw placed Portugal in Group F alongside Argentina and Canada. It marks a historic occasion as this is the first time Portugal has hosted the U18 men's championship, and the partisan crowd at the Rio Maior Sports Centre will be hoping to spur its side through the group stage and into the knockout rounds.
Groups C, D and E complete the picture for the Division 2 nations. Colombia, Singapore and New Zealand will contest Group C, while Turkiye, Hong Kong China and Brazil face off in Group D. South Africa, Greece and Australia meet in Group E.
Historical Note
While Hungary is the only multiple champion of this age group, Croatia, Greece and Italy have made the top spot. Serbia and Spain have two silvers and bronze each; Montenegro has a silver and bronze, while Russia has a bronze.
In 2009 in Sibenik, Croatia, the junior men’s tournament was played as 18 & Under — with Croatia, Greece and Serbia filling the podium — before reverting to 20 & Under two years later in Volos, Greece.
Rio Maior Ready To Welcome World
The championships will be held at the Rio Maior Sports Centre, home of the Portuguese High Performance Swimming Centre, and a venue with a long-standing reputation for excellence in aquatic sports. The venue has two indoor pools — a 25m and a 50m – and has been recognised with the IOC/IAKS Award, ranking among the world's top sports complexes.
With group-stage competition beginning on Friday, 27 June and the tournament culminating on 4 July, Rio Maior is set to host eight days of world-class junior water polo.
Opening-Day Draw
09:00, Group C, Colombia v New Zealand
10:30, Group D, Turkiye v Brazil
12:00, Group E, South Africa v Australia
13:30, Group F, Argentina v Canada
15:00, Group A, Croatia v Montenegro
16:30, Group B, China v United States of America
18:00, Group A, Hungary v Serbia
19:30, Group B, Spain v Italy