While the names of the last three European teams heading to the Water Polo World Cup in Doha remain unknown, the draw for the championship was conducted today in Qatar’s capital.

One of the teams still awaiting a visa for Doha is Montenegro. This team is waiting for a final decision from LEN regarding the canceled European Championship in Netanya, Israel. Should that championship take place in another country, the top three national teams without a World Cup ticket will qualify for Doha.

If the European Championship is ultimately canceled, the specialized portal “Total Waterpolo” has reported that the teams qualifying for the World Championship (scheduled for February 2024) will likely be determined by the rankings from the 2022 European Championship held in Split. These teams are Montenegro, Croatia, and Georgia.

If the “sharks” manage to qualify for the World Cup via either method mentioned, they will be placed in one of the three groups: A – against Spain, Australia, and South Africa; B – with Serbia, the USA, and Japan; or D – facing Hungary, Italy, and Kazakhstan.

The European Championship, initially scheduled from January 3 to 16, 2024, was canceled due to the war in the Gaza Strip, while the World Cup in Doha kicks off on February 5.

This championship will hold even greater significance as it serves to distribute the remaining spots for the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.

GROUP FORMATION, WC DOHA 2023.

GROUP A: Spain, Europe 1, Australia, South Africa

GROUP B: Greece, France, Brazil, China

GROUP C: Serbia, USA, Europe 2, Japan

GROUP D: Hungary, Italy, Europe 3, Kazakhstan

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