Spain and Hungary both claimed emphatic wins over their respective arch-rivals, Italy and the Netherlands, on the opening day of the Women’s U20 European Water Polo Championships in Oeiras, Portugal. Spain – finalists in the last four editions (when contested at U19 level) – and Hungary – runners-up in the past two tournaments – kicked off their campaigns in spectacular fashion, while Greece – bronze medallists in 2016, 2022 and 2024 – defeated Israel in an action-packed encounter.

2026 Women’s U20 European Water Polo Championships
Oeiras, Portugal

Day 1 – Results
Saturday 1 August

Group A

Spain 16-8 Italy (6-3, 4-1, 2-2, 4-2)
Greece 18-13 Israel (4-4, 4-0, 5-3, 5-6)

Group B

Hungary 17-5 Netherlands (2-1, 5-1, 5-2, 5-1)
Croatia 20-10 France (7-1, 3-4, 5-3, 5-2)

Group C

Germany 3-26 Neutral Athletes B (1-5, 1-6, 1-9, 0-6)

Group D

Ukraine 12-16 Portugal (3-4, 4-2, 2-2, 3-8)

Group E

Great Britain 21-9 Ireland (3-5, 4-0, 7-4, 7-0)

Group F

Türkiye 21-7 Switzerland (7-1, 5-1, 4-1, 5-4)

Title-holders Spain left little doubt in their opening match that they’ve arrived in Oeiras with a fourth successive title in their sights (having won the previous three editions when the event was the U19 Europeans).

Built around the outstanding squad that also swept aside all challengers at last year’s U18 Europeans in Malta, the Spaniards produced a dominant display against Italy.

Their tremendous sharpshooters, Carlota Penalver, Martina Claveria and Queralt Anton, rocketed the Spaniards into a 5-1 lead inside five minutes, and their arch-rivals never recovered from that explosive start.

After taking a 6-3 lead at the end of the first period, Spain followed with a 4-0 burst in four minutes of the second to move 10-4 clear by half-time. They didn’t ease off after the restart either, stretching the advantage to 14-6 midway through the fourth as they rubber-stamped their superiority.

Greece found it a little tougher to fend off Israel’s spirited challenge. Although the Greeks took the lead, the underdogs, inspired by Miya Tirosh’s hat-trick, repeatedly fought back to level the scores.

Another six-on-five goal with 30 seconds remaining in the opening period made it 4-4, but Greece responded superbly in the second, reeling off four unanswered goals before half-time.

Israel could no longer withstand the pressure and ran out of answers against the Greek centre-forwards in the second quarter, conceding four straight goals.

Greece added two more from action shortly after the turnaround, while Israel’s next strike ended a scoring drought of 12:34.

That decisive 6-0 spell allowed Greece to cruise through the closing stages, comfortably sealing victory despite missing three penalties along the way.

Hungary turned the second blockbuster of the day into a one-sided affair as they expertly dismantled the Netherlands.

Although Dutch goalkeeper Caitlin van Leeuwen produced a string of outstanding saves early on, including stopping a penalty, a woman-down chance and a one-on-one counter, she couldn’t keep her side in the contest for long.

The Magyars’ aggressive, highly organised defence sparked a succession of counter-attacks, and they began beating the goalkeeper from close range before adding strikes from mid and long distance.

Hungary stormed into a 7-2 half-time lead and maintained their relentless pace by scoring five goals in each of the final two periods to wrap up an emphatic victory.

Later, Croatia overpowered France, with their established stars Jelena Butic, Ria Glas and Neli Jankovic inflicting most of the damage by scoring four goals apiece.

A devastating 7-1 opening quarter set the tone and, although the French responded in the second, the Croatians moved through the gears again after the long break, winning both the third and fourth periods to seal a convincing double-digit victory.

The opening matches in Division 2 also produced commanding victories. Neutral Athletes B trounced Germany in the opening clash by firing in 26 goals.

Great Britain needed eight minutes to settle against Ireland as they struggled to contain Laura Casserly, who netted four first-period goals to give the Irish a 5-3 lead.

The Brits then took control with a 4-0 run in the second period to turn the game around before adding seven goals in each of the final two periods to secure all three points in convincing fashion.

Lucy Blenkinship top scored for Great Britain with five goals, while Jo Lamont-Tuckett and Elsie Graves each hit four.

Türkiye made few mistakes against Switzerland, racing into a 12-2 lead by half-time before increasing the margin even further after the break.

In the day’s final game, Portugal shook off a spirited Ukraine with a powerful 8-3 finish in the fourth quarter.

Earlier, the Ukrainians hit back from 2-0 down to edge in front and, although the hosts wrestled back the lead on several occasions, they still trailed by one (9-8) heading into the last eight minutes.

Roared on by a loud and passionate home crowd, Portugal dug deep and came out fighting, scoring five without reply to seize control before closing out the game in style.

Portugal captain Joana Arromba led the scoring with five goals, while Beatriz Sousa struck four.

Watch all the action live from Oeiras, Portugal, on European Aquatics TV

For the full schedule/results/standings for the European Aquatics U20 Women’s Water Polo Championships, click here

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics