2025 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship

2025 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship
Tournament details
Host country Romania
CityOradea
Venue1 (in 1 host city)
Dates18–24 August 2025
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Final positions
Champions Montenegro (3rd title)
Runners-up Serbia
Third place Greece
Fourth place Italy
Tournament statistics
Matches played48
Goals scored1,197 (24.94 per match)
Awards
Best player Strahinja Gojković
Best goalkeeper Marko Pejović
Official website
European Aquatics

The 2025 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship was the 23rd edition of the Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship, organized by the European Aquatics. The tournament was played in Oradea, Romania from 18 to 24 August 2025.[1] Starting this edition, the age level has changed from U17 to U18.[2] Greece were the defending champions; Montenegro became the European champions for the third time.

Host selection

Oradea was given the hosting rights on 13 November 2024.[1]

Participating teams

No qualification round took place; the sixteen teams that took part in the 2023 edition automatically qualified for the championship while the remaining registered teams compete in the newly formed Division I.[3]

Teams
 Greece (1st)
 Serbia (2nd)
 Spain (3rd)
 Hungary (4th)
 Montenegro (5th)
 Italy (6th)
 Croatia (7th)
 Netherlands (8th)
 Türkiye (9th)
 Germany (10th)
 Malta (11th)
 France (12th)
 Romania (13th)
 Georgia (14th)
 Ukraine (15th)
 Poland (16th)

Venue

Oradea
“Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool
Capacity: 850

Draw

The draw was held on 7 February 2025 at 10:30 CET in Zagreb, Croatia. The seeding was based off the results of the previous edition.[4][5]

Sub-division 1

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

 Greece
 Serbia

 Spain
 Hungary

 Montenegro
 Italy

 Croatia
 Netherlands

Sub-division 2

Pot 5 Pot 6 Pot 7 Pot 8

 Türkiye
 Germany

 Malta
 France

 Romania
 Georgia

 Ukraine
 Poland

Preliminary round

The schedule was announced on 6 August 2025.[6]

All times are local (Eastern European Summer Time; UTC+3).

Sub-division 1

Group A

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Hungary 3 3 0 0 0 46 35 +11 9 Quarterfinals
2  Italy 3 2 0 0 1 41 32 +9 6
3  Greece 3 1 0 0 2 38 46 −8 3 Crossovers
4  Netherlands 3 0 0 0 3 35 47 −12 0
Source: Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
18 August 2025
13:30
Report Greece  9–14  Italy “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Jakov Blaskovic (CRO), Pau Segurana (ESP)
Score by quarters: 1–4, 2–4, 4–3, 2–3
Chatzis 5 Goals Chianese 4
18 August 2025
16:00
Report Hungary  15–11  Netherlands “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Julien Bourges (FRA), Mihnea Ioan Alexandrescu (ROU)
Score by quarters: 4–3, 4–2, 2–2, 5–4
Benedek 4 Goals Jukic 4

19 August 2025
17:30
Report Netherlands  11–16  Italy “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Levan Berishvili (GEO), Sinisa Matijasevic (MNE)
Score by quarters: 3–4, 2–1, 3–4, 3–7
Jukic 4 Goals Costanzo 4
19 August 2025
20:30
Report Greece  13–19  Hungary “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Lazar Andjelic (SRB), Ralf Mueller (GER)
Score by quarters: 5–3, 4–6, 3–5, 1–5
Chatzis 4 Goals Benedek 6

20 August 2025
17:30
Report Greece  16–13  Netherlands “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Pau Segurana (ESP), George Makharadze (UKR)
Score by quarters: 4–3, 4–0, 5–6, 3–4
Angelopoulos 6 Goals Jukic 6
20 August 2025
20:30
Report Hungary  12–11  Italy “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Sinisa Matijasevic (MNE), Jakov Blaskovic (CRO)
Score by quarters: 3–4, 4–2, 3–5, 2–0
Benedek, Cseh 3 Goals Costanzo, Tresa 4

Group B

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Montenegro 3 3 0 0 0 35 28 +7 9 Quarterfinals
2  Croatia 3 1 1 0 1 31 32 −1 5
3  Spain 3 1 0 1 1 37 32 +5 4 Crossovers
4  Serbia 3 0 0 0 3 24 35 −11 0
Source: Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
18 August 2025
17:30
Report Serbia  8–9  Montenegro “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Nikolaos Boudramis (GRE), Ralf Mueller (GER)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 1–3, 1–3, 3–1
Canepa, Neskovic 2 Goals Moracanin 3
18 August 2025
20:30
Report Spain  14–16 (PSO)  Croatia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Peter de Jong (NED), Norbert Ercse (HUN)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 3–4, 2–1, 3–3  PSO: 3–5
Solar Roizarena 3 Goals Jerkovic 4

19 August 2025
13:30
Report Croatia  7–12  Montenegro “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Nikolaos Boudramis (GRE), Kukasz Krol (POL)
Score by quarters: 3–4, 1–2, 1–2, 2–4
Dujmic 3 Goals Stupar 3
19 August 2025
16:00
Report Serbia  7–13  Spain “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Bruno Navarra (ITA), Julien Bourges (FRA)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 2–2, 1–4, 1–5
Conkic, Urosevic 2 Goals Comabella Cives 4

20 August 2025
13:30
Report Serbia  9–13  Croatia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Nikolaos Boudramis (GRE), Peter de Jong (NED)
Score by quarters: 3–5, 2–4, 1–3, 3–1
Lazic, Zelic 3 Goals Susic 6
20 August 2025
16:00
Report Spain  13–14  Montenegro “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Bruno Navarra (ITA), Mihnea Ioan Alexandrescu (ROU)
Score by quarters: 3–4, 4–4, 4–3, 2–3
Millan Martin 3 Goals Gojković 4

Sub-division 2

Group C

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  France 3 3 0 0 0 51 27 +24 9 Crossovers
2  Poland 3 1 0 0 2 34 49 −15 3[a]
3  Romania (H) 3 1 0 0 2 31 37 −6 3[a] 13th–16th place semifinals
4  Türkiye 3 1 0 0 2 33 36 −3 3[a]
Source: Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
(H) Host
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c HTH: Poland 1–1, +2 GD; Romania 1–1, ±0 GD; Turkey 1–1, −2 GD.
18 August 2025
09:00
Report France  26–9  Poland “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Massimo Angileri (ITA), George Makharadze (UKR)
Score by quarters: 5–3, 8–2, 8–3, 5–1
Novecek 5 Goals Greif 3
18 August 2025
19:00
Report Türkiye  12–11  Romania “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Lazar Andjelic (SRB), Levan Berishvili (GEO)
Score by quarters: 2–3, 3–1, 3–5, 4–2
Gulsoy 4 Goals Feke 5

19 August 2025
12:00
Report Türkiye  10–11  France “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Jakov Blaskovic (CRO), Massimo Angileri (MLT)
Score by quarters: 4–4, 2–3, 2–3, 2–1
Yildaz 5 Goals Braise Fernandez 5
19 August 2025
19:00
Report Poland  11–12  Romania “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Pau Segurana (ESP), George Makharadze (UKR)
Score by quarters: 4–3, 2–3, 2–3, 3–3
Greif, Janicki 3 Goals Cojocariu, Rosan 3

20 August 2025
09:00
Report Türkiye  11–14  Poland “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Levan Berishvili (GEO), Massimo Angileri (MLT)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 3–5, 2–3, 4–5
three players 2 Goals Janicki 3
20 August 2025
19:00
Report France  14–8  Romania “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Ralf Mueller (GER), Lazar Andjelic (SRB)
Score by quarters: 1–3, 5–0, 5–2, 3–3
Agrefilo 5 Goals eight players 1

Group D

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Malta 3 2 1 0 0 48 25 +23 8 Crossovers
2  Germany 3 2 0 1 0 44 27 +17 7
3  Georgia 3 1 0 0 2 33 35 −2 3 13th–16th place semifinals
4  Ukraine 3 0 0 0 3 22 60 −38 0
Source: Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
18 August 2025
10:30
Report Germany  14–8  Georgia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Bruno Navarra (ITA), Lukasz Krol (POL)
Score by quarters: 5–1, 5–2, 3–0, 1–5
Hofmann 5 Goals Avesadze 3
18 August 2025
12:00
Report Malta  24–6  Ukraine “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Sinisa Matijasevic (MNE), Berk Gunkut (TUR)
Score by quarters: 6–1, 6–4, 4–1, 8–0
Chircop, Cutajar 5 Goals Yarema 2

19 August 2025
09:00
Report Ukraine  8–17  Georgia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Norbert Ercse (HUN), Berk Gunkut (TUR)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 1–5, 1–6, 3–3
Rudnyk 2 Goals Mchedlishvili 5
19 August 2025
10:30
Report Germany  20–21 (PSO)  Malta “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Peter de Jong (NED), Mihnea Ioan Alexandrescu (ROU)
Score by quarters: 1–2, 4–2, 4–4, 2–3  PSO: 9–10
Mityska 3 Goals Chircop, Cutajar 4

20 August 2025
10:30
Report Germany  19–8  Ukraine “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Berk Gunkut (TUR), Kukasz Krol (POL)
Score by quarters: 5–0, 6–4, 4–1, 4–3
Kugler 5 Goals Tischenko 2
20 August 2025
12:00
Report Malta  13–8  Georgia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Norbert Ercse (HUN), Julien Bourges (FRA)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 3–2, 4–0, 3–3
four players 2 Goals Veshaguri 4

Brackets

Main bracket

 
CrossoversQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
 
              
 
 
 
 
22 August
 
 
B1
 Montenegro
21
 
21 August
 
C1
 France
11
 
A4
 Netherlands
11
 
23 August
 
C1
 France
12
 
B1
 Montenegro
10
 
 
A2
 Italy
6
 
 
22 August
 
 
A2
 Italy
11
 
21 August
 
B3
 Spain
6
 
B3
 Spain
14
 
24 August
 
D2
 Germany
7
 
B1
 Montenegro
13
 
 
B4
 Serbia
9
 
 
22 August
 
 
B2
 Croatia
16
 
21 August
 
A3
 Greece
17
 
A3
 Greece
21
 
23 August
 
C2
 Poland
12
 
A3
 Greece
14
 
 
B4
 Serbia
20 Third place game
 
 
22 August24 August
 
 
A1
 Hungary
13
A2
 Italy
11
 
21 August
 
B4
 Serbia
14
A3
 Greece
12
 
B4
 Serbia
18
 
 
D1
 Malta
13
 

5th place bracket

 
5th–8th place semifinalsFifth place game
 
      
 
23 August
 
 
C1
 France
11
 
24 August
 
B3
 Spain
16
 
B3
 Spain
10
 
23 August
 
A1
 Hungary
7
 
B2
 Croatia
14
 
 
A1
 Hungary
18
 
Seventh place game
 
 
24 August
 
 
C1
 France
7
 
 
B2
 Croatia
16

9th place bracket

 
9th–12th place semifinalsNinth place game
 
      
 
22 August
 
 
A4
 Netherlands
8
 
23 August
 
D2
 Germany
13
 
D2
 Germany
16
 
22 August
 
D1
 Malta
17
 
C2
 Poland
14
 
 
D1
 Malta
15
 
Eleventh place game
 
 
23 August
 
 
A4
 Netherlands
18
 
 
C2
 Poland
7

13th place bracket

 
13th–16th place semifinalsThirteenth place game
 
      
 
21 August
 
 
D3
 Georgia
8
 
22 August
 
C4
 Turkey
11
 
C4
 Turkey
9
 
21 August
 
C3
 Romania
8
 
D4
 Ukraine
12
 
 
C3
 Romania
16
 
Fifteenth place game
 
 
22 August
 
 
D3
 Georgia
17
 
 
D4
 Ukraine
14

Knockout stage

13th–16th place semifinals

21 August 2025
9:00
Report Georgia  8–11  Turkey “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Nikolaos Boudramis (GRE), Julien Bourges (FRA)
Score by quarters: 2–4, 2–1, 2–3, 2–3
Mchedlishvili, Veshaguri 2 Goals Caliskan 5

21 August 2025
10:30
Report Ukraine  12–16  Romania “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Norbert Ercse (HUN), Massimo Angileri (MLT)
Score by quarters: 1–3, 0–6, 6–4, 5–3
Zinkevych 4 Goals Feke, Paladiciuc 4

Fifteenth place game

22 August 2025
9:00
Report Georgia  17–14  Ukraine “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Lukasz Krol (POL), Mihnea Ioan Alexandrescu (ROU)
Score by quarters: 4–1, 4–4, 3–4, 6–5
Khurtsilava 8 Goals Zinkevych 5

Thirteenth place game

22 August 2025
10:30
Report Turkey  9–8  Romania “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Bruno Navarra (ITA), Sinisa Matijasevic (MNE)
Score by quarters: 1–0, 2–4, 5–2, 1–2
Caliskan 3 Goals three players 2

Crossovers

21 August 2025
16:00
Report Netherlands  11–12  France “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Bruno Navarra (ITA), Lukasz Krol (POL)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 1–3, 3–5, 5–3
De Zwart 3 Goals Agrefilo 4

21 August 2025
17:30
Report Greece  21–12  Poland “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Sinisa Matijasevic (MNE), Mihnea Ioan Alexandrescu (ROU)
Score by quarters: 5–2, 3–2, 5–3, 8–5
Angelopoulos 6 Goals Greif 4

21 August 2025
19:00
Report Serbia  18–13  Malta “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Pau Segurana (ESP), Levan Berishvili (GEO)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 7–2, 4–2, 4–7
Canepa 4 Goals Dimech 5

21 August 2025
20:30
Report Spain  14–7  Germany “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Peter de Jong (NED), Jakov Blaskovic (CRO)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 3–2, 4–0, 4–4
Comabella Cives, Solar Roizarena 3 Goals Scherrieble 2

9th–12th place semifinals

22 August 2025
12:00
Report Netherlands  8–13  Germany “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Massimo Angileri (ITA), Berk Gunkut (TUR)
Score by quarters: 1–1, 3–4, 2–3, 2–5
Hageman, Jukic 3 Goals Hofmann 5

22 August 2025
13:30
Report Poland  14–15 (PSO)  Malta “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Ralf Mueller (GER), George Makharadze (UKR)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–1, 2–3, 2–2  PSO: 5–6
Janicki 3 Goals Chircop 4

Eleventh place game

23 August 2025
9:00
Report Netherlands  18–7  Poland “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Score by quarters: 2–1, 7–2, 3–2, 6–2

Ninth place game

23 August 2025
10:30
Report Germany  16–17 (PSO)  Malta “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Score by quarters: 0–3, 3–2, 4–3, 5–4  PSO: 4–5

Quarterfinals

22 August 2025
16:00
Report Montenegro  21–11  France “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Nikolaos Boudramis (GRE), Jakov Blaskovic (CRO)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 8–4, 7–1, 3–5
Gojković 5 Goals Novacek 5

22 August 2025
17:30
Report Croatia  16–17  Greece “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Pau Segurana (ESP), Julien Bourges (FRA)
Score by quarters: 4–4, 5–5, 4–4, 3–4
Jerkovic 7 Goals Chatzis 4

22 August 2025
19:00
Report Hungary  13–14  Serbia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Peter de Jong (NED), Levan Berishvili (GEO)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 4–4, 2–3, 4–4
Benedek 7 Goals Vojinovic 4

22 August 2025
20:30
Report Italy  11–6  Spain “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Norbert Ercse (HUN), Lazar Andjelic (SRB)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 2–2, 3–2, 3–1
Alessandrini 3 Goals six players 1

5th–8th place semifinals

23 August 2025
16:00
Report France  11–16  Spain “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Ralf Mueller (GER), Sinisa Matijasevic (MNE)
Score by quarters: 1–5, 2–1, 4–3, 4–7

23 August 2025
17:30
Report Croatia  14–18  Hungary “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Nikolaos Boudramis (GRE), Massimo Angileri (MLT)
Score by quarters: 6–6, 5–3, 0–4, 3–5
Dragas, Dujmic 4 Goals Benedek, Cseh 6

Seventh place game

24 August 2025
15:00
Report France  7–16  Croatia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Peter de Jong (NED), Mihnea Ioan Alexandrescu (ROU)
Score by quarters: 2–5, 3–4, 0–5, 2–2
Barnat 3 Goals Susic 5

Fifth place game

24 August 2025
16:30
Report Spain  10–7  Hungary “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Jakov Blašković (CRO), Julien Bourges (FRA)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 2–1, 3–3, 3–2
Comabella Cives 4 Goals Rabb 3

Semifinals

23 August 2025
19:00
Report Montenegro  10–6  Italy “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Jakov Blaskovic (CRO), Norbert Ercse (HUN)
Score by quarters: 2–0, 5–5, 3–0, 0–1
Stupar 3 Goals Chianese 3

23 August 2025
20:30
Report Greece  14–20  Serbia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Julien Bourges (FRA), Peter de Jong (NED)
Score by quarters: 2–5, 2–5, 5–5, 5–5
Chatzis 8 Goals Conkic, Lazic 4

Third place game

24 August 2025
18:00
Report Italy  11–12  Greece “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Lazar Anđelić (SRB), Siniša Matijašević (MNE)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 4–3, 2–4, 2–2
Alessandrini 3 Goals Angelopoulos 6

Final

24 August 2025
19:30
Report Montenegro  13–9  Serbia “Ioan Alexandrescu” Swimming Pool, Oradea
Referees:
Pau Segurana (ESP), Levan Bereshvili (GEO)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 4–2, 5–2, 1–3
Stupar, Bošković, Gojković 3 Goals Canepa 6

Final standings

Rank Team
 Montenegro (3rd title)
 Serbia
 Greece
4  Italy
5  Spain
6  Hungary
7  Croatia
8  France
9  Malta
10  Germany
11  Netherlands
12  Poland
13  Turkey
14  Romania
15  Georgia
16  Ukraine
Relegated to the 2027 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship Division I

See also

References

  1. ^ a b LEN, Juliana (November 13, 2024). "European Aquatics Announces Dates and Locations for 2025 Men's and Women's U16 and U18 European Water Polo Championships - European Aquatics®".
  2. ^ "Changes in European age group competitions an 'exciting opportunity'". Swim England Water Polo Hub. May 17, 2024.
  3. ^ "Full line-ups for 2025 Men's and Women's U16 and U18 European Water Polo Championships confirmed - European Aquatics®". January 22, 2025.
  4. ^ "U16 & U18 European Championships draws set up thrilling summer - European Aquatics®". February 7, 2025.
  5. ^ Curcic, Ivan (February 7, 2025). "New format of European cadet and youth Championships; groups determined".
  6. ^ https://europeanaquatics.org/mens-u18-water-polo-championships-schedules-for-oradea-and-rio-maior/