Australia’s rising water polo stars are set to take on the world’s best, with the Australian U16 Men’s team ready to begin its campaign at the 2026 World Aquatics U16 Men’s Water Polo Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Running from 3-9 August, the tournament will see the nation’s next generation of talent test themselves against the world’s strongest junior teams, with every member of the squad preparing for their first World Championships experience.
Head Coach Dean Semmens said the championships provide a valuable opportunity for the group to grow as players and teammates on the international stage.
“I always try to set the standard in terms of work ethic, and I hope that inspires others to lift to new levels and, in turn, becomes a small part in helping this team achieve its best result,” Semmens said.
“This group has embraced every challenge throughout the preparation phase. They’ve worked hard to build strong connections, and we’re excited to see them put that into practice against some of the best young teams in the world.”
Western Australia’s Tom Gamble said wearing the green and gold at a World Championships is the fulfilment of a goal he has worked towards for years.
“To me it means everything. To be able to make and compete with the team in Europe has been a goal since I was a junior in U14s, so to be able to experience it all with a great group of boys is really special,” Gamble said.
“We’re most looking forward to experiencing the competitive environment of our first international competition, especially the significance of a Junior World Championships. Not many get to experience that.
“All games will definitely be exciting, but we’re particularly looking forward to playing Croatia and the USA. They’re always among the top teams, and it’s a challenge we’re looking forward to.
“Our goal is to perform well in our opening games to put ourselves in the best position for the crossover, classification and finals stages, while continuing to learn and adapt throughout our preparation and the tournament.
Queensland’s Levi Clapper echoed the pride shared across the squad ahead of making his international debut.
“It means the world to me, and I’m extremely lucky and honoured to be given the opportunity,” Clapper said.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing the world, travelling with the boys, meeting new people and competing at such a high level.
“I want to play water polo I’m proud of and help our team get the best result we can.”
The World Championships represent an important milestone in Australia’s high-performance pathway, providing the country’s emerging athletes with invaluable international experience as they continue their development on the world stage.
Australian Fixtures
Match 1
Australia v Slovenia
Date: Monday 3 August
Time (Croatia): 5:30pm
Time (AEST): 1:30am (Tuesday 4 August)
Match 2
Australia v Croatia
Date: Tuesday 4 August
Time (Croatia): 7:00pm
Time (AEST): 3:00am (Wednesday 5 August)
Match 3
Australia v Romania
Date: Wednesday 5 August
Time (Croatia): 5:30pm
Time (AEST): 1:30am (Thursday 6 August)
Match 4
Australia v United States of America
Date: Thursday 6 August
Time (Croatia): 4:00pm
Time (AEST): 12:00am (Friday 7 August)
Australia’s full schedule, results and updates will be available throughout the tournament here.
