The very best of Europe’s new generation of female water polo players are gathering in Oeiras, Portugal, where the Women’s U20 European Water Polo Championship gets under way on Saturday.
A thrilling week of action lies ahead – and it remains to be seen whether it ends the same way as the previous two editions (which were contested at U19 level), when Spain claimed the title, Hungary finished runners-up and Greece secured bronze in both 2022 and 2024.
Those three powerhouses are once again among the leading favourites in Portugal, with Spain and Greece having also claimed silver and bronze respectively at last year’s U20 World Championships in Brazil.
The Netherlands and Italy are always in the mix too, but this time the return of Russian athletes, competing as Neutral Athletes B (NAB), could also have a major influence on the outcome.
The Russians still top the all-time (U19) medal table with eight medals, including four titles. Although they begin their campaign in Division Two, they are expected to have a major say in the crossover matches and potentially the knockout phase as well.
With the two-division format in place, a series of standout Group Stage clashes is guaranteed.
The opening day alone features Spain taking on Italy and Hungary meeting the Netherlands. Greece are also in the same group as Spain and Italy, meaning all three matchdays in Group A promise top-class action.
The top two teams in each Division One group will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the third and fourth-placed teams will contest crossover matches against the four Division Two group winners.
There will also be an extra twist, as immediately after the final Group Stage match, an on-site draw will determine the crossover pairings.
With Neutral Athletes B expected to be involved, it adds another layer of intrigue, as none of the top-ranked teams will know in advance whether they could face them in the quarterfinals – or even in the crossovers.
One of the Group A teams (Spain, Greece or Italy) will feature in that round and could be drawn against NAB for a place in the quarterfinals.
Several talented young players who recently featured at this summer’s senior World Cup in Sydney have also joined their respective age-group teams, giving this tournament an even greater boost in quality.
It’s another reason to tune in to the live stream and enjoy what promises to be a spectacular week of water polo.
Women’s U20 European Water Polo Championship, Oeiras, Portugal
Division One
Group A: Spain, Greece, Italy, Israel
Group B: Hungary, Netherlands, Croatia, France
Division Two
Group C: Germany, Malta, Neutral Athletes B
Group D: Portugal, Romania, Ukraine
Group E: Czechia, Great Britain, Ireland
Group F: Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye
Watch all the action live from Oeiras, Portugal, on European Aquatics TV
For the full schedule of the European Aquatics U20 Women’s Water Polo Championships, click here
Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram
Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
