Australian sporting fans will have a rare opportunity to witness the world’s best water polo players downunder as part of the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo Cup Finals, with the top eight women’s and men’s nations to compete in Sydney from 22-26 July.
Tickets are on sale from today, with the five day tournament to be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, the legacy venue of the Sydney Games which saw the Aussie Stingers – Australia’s women’s national team – crowned Olympic champions.
For the first time in water polo history, Water Polo Australia will host both the men’s and women’s World Aquatics World Cup Finals, as preparations build towards the LA 2028 Olympic Games in two years. The top eight men’s and women’s international teams are confirmed to battle it out for the sport’s most prestigious titles at Sydney Olympic Park from 22-26 July 2026.
Water Polo Australia CEO, Tim Welsford, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation moment for Australian sporting fans, who would traditionally follow our national teams in an Olympic year, to fill the stands green and gold and cheer on our Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers and Aussie Sharks.
“The World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals on home soil is the chance to witness the best water polo nations go head-to-head, and a rare opportunity to celebrate our Australian athletes as they compete in a pool that means so much to our sport.
“Don’t miss the opportunity to get your tickets, bring your voice, wear green and gold, and help us put on a memorable show as momentum grows towards the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.”
The Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers captured the heart of the nation when they recently claimed a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. They are set to come up against current Olympic champions Spain as well as Sydney 2000 rivals USA.
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks defied the odds in Paris when they delivered emphatic wins over current Olympic champions Serbia and water polo giants, Hungary, reaching the quarter finals where they lost in an agonising penalty shoot out.
The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers have their spots confirmed as the host nation. Following the completion of the World Cup Division 1 and 2 tournaments, the remaining seven men’s and women’s teams have now qualified.
In the men’s division, current World Champions Spain will be the favourites in the pool, coming into the event with confidence from winning the World Aquatics World Cup Division 1 tournament. European powerhouses Italy, Greece and Hungary will loom as threats for the World Cup titles in July.
On the women’s side, Spain will again be favourites as the defending Olympic champions and recent winners of the World Aquatics World Cup Division 1 tournament. The United States of America women’s water polo team will also be one to watch, highly regarded as one of the most successful teams winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Tickets are now on sale to local and international water polo fans via the OzTix portal: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/ef858247-d2dd-42a8-a184-6ec74fd9315b
2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup Finals Teams
Men
Australia
Spain
Italy
Greece
Hungary
Croatia
Montenegro
Georgia
Women
Australia
United States of America
The Netherlands
Spain
Italy
Hungary
Russia
China
