A new chapter in water polo history is being written in one of the sport’s most iconic homes, as Dubrovnik’s spectacular Old Town Harbour hosts the inaugural World Aquatics Water Polo 4×4 – WP4 – Open Championships from 31 August to 6 September.
With the ancient city walls and Adriatic sea providing a dramatic and picturesque backdrop, the historic Croatian city is the perfect setting for the global launch of WP4 – a dynamic new format designed to make water polo faster, more accessible and easier to take to new audiences around the world.
Water polo has been played in Dubrovnik for more than a century, with the city’s legendary Wild League being contested in the same harbour each summer.
Now, that historic stretch of water is providing the grand stage for another milestone as 24 teams from 18 countries across five continents have gathered for the first global WP4 championships.
“The launch of WP4 represents another major milestone in our vision to make aquatic sports more dynamic, accessible and globally appealing,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam.
“By introducing a faster, adaptable format, we are providing more opportunities for athletes and federations while bringing the excitement of water polo directly to new fans.
“Dubrovnik’s beautiful harbour is the perfect backdrop for the launch of this amazing new discipline.”
The concept takes inspiration from other successful team sports, creating a compact format that can be played in more accessible venues and potentially introduce water polo to places where the traditional game has yet to take hold.
In Dubrovnik, WP4 is being played with four players in the water – three field players and a goalkeeper – from squads of up to eight.
With the action unfolding in a smaller 15m x 12m field, and with 20 seconds to complete an attack, the games are serving up relentless drama, fast transitions and numerous one-on-one battles.
The matches are split into four five-minute sets, with the first team to win three securing victory. If the score reaches 2-2, a penalty shootout will decide the winner.
The inaugural championships has brought together established water polo powers and several aspiring nations such as Lithuania and Mongolia.
There is plenty of international pedigree on show, too. Rachel Fattal, Ryann Neushul and Jordan Raney feature for the United States women, while Paula Camus and Isabel Piralkova are among Spain’s leading names.
The men’s competition is also packed with star quality, including the likes of US and Pro Recco giant Max Irving and Montenegro’s Danilo Radovic.
Men’s teams competing in Dubrovnik
- Australia
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Georgia
- Spain
- Hong Kong 1
- Hong Kong 2
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- Lithuania
- Mongolia
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Russia
- Serbia
- United States
Women’s teams competing in Dubrovnik
- Australia
- Croatia
- Spain
- Greece
- South Africa
- Russia
- Türkiye
- United States
For more information about the WP4 tournament, click here
For live streaming, visit the World Aquatics youtube site by clicking here
