Singapore – July 16, 2025 – The 2025 World Aquatics Championships women’s water polo tournament surged into its decisive phase today at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. Following a thrilling conclusion to the preliminary rounds on July 15th, all eyes are now on the knockout stage, which promises high-octane clashes as teams vie for championship glory and crucial final standings.
July 15th Preliminary Round Results:
Yesterday’s action saw teams across all four groups deliver impressive performances:
- Group A: Powerhouse Australia comfortably defeated New Zealand with a final score of 15–6, showcasing a consistent offense. Later, Italy delivered a commanding performance against host nation Singapore, securing a decisive 32–5 victory, with Cocchiere leading Italy’s scoring charge with 6 goals.
- Group B: The United States proved their championship credentials by overwhelming Argentina with a massive 26–3 win, with Stryker of the United States netting an impressive 6 goals. The evening match in this group saw a more contested battle, with the Netherlands defeating China 13–7 in a disciplined effort, as Van der Sloot led the Dutch attack with 4 goals.
- Group C: This group provided some high-scoring affairs. Greece emerged victorious over Japan with a 25–15 scoreline, fueled by Myriokefalitaki’s impressive 7 goals. In the final match of the day for this group, Hungary showcased their strength by defeating Croatia 22–6, with Garda and Keszthelyi each contributing 4 goals for the Hungarian side.
- Group D: This group featured competitive matches. France secured a solid 13–6 win against South Africa, with Hardy and Heurtaux each scoring 3 goals for the French team. The last match of the day saw Spain overcome Great Britain with a 16–7 victory.
The Road Ahead: Knockout Stage Brackets Revealed
With the preliminary rounds complete, the tournament now transitions into the high-stakes knockout phase, which includes both the championship bracket and various classification matches.
Championship Bracket: The Path to Gold
Teams finishing first in their respective groups have earned a direct pass to the quarterfinals, while second and third-place teams will compete in playoff matches for the remaining quarterfinal berths.
- Direct Quarterfinalists: Following their dominant performances, Australia, United States, Hungary, and Spain have directly qualified for the Quarterfinals.
- Playoff Matches – July 17th: The following playoff matches will determine which teams advance to the quarterfinals:
- Greece vs. France
- Japan vs. Great Britain
- Italy vs. China
- New Zealand vs. Netherlands
Classification 13th–16th Place Semifinals – July 17th:
- Singapore vs. Argentina
- Croatia vs. South Africa