2025 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship Division I

2025 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship Division I
Tournament details
Host country	Portugal
City	Rio Maior
Venue	1 (in 1 host city)
Dates	18–24 August 2025
Teams	14 (from 1 confederation)
Final positions
Champions	Israel (1st title)
Runners-up	Belgium
Third place	Bulgaria
Fourth place	Portugal
Official website
	European Aquatics

The 2025 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship Division I was the inaugural edition of the second tier of the Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championships, organized by the European Aquatics. The tournament was played in Rio Maior, Portugal from 18 to 24 August 2025.^[1]^[2]

Israel won the tournament and, along with second-placed Belgium, promoted to the 2027 Elite Division.

Host selection

Rio Maior was given the hosting rights on 13 November 2024.^[1]

Participating teams

Teams that have registered their U18 national team but didn't compete in the 2023 U17 European Championship take part in the tournament.^[3] After the draw, Finland withdrew.

Teams
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czechia
Denmark
~~Finland~~
Great Britain
Ireland
Israel
Lithuania
Moldova
Portugal
Slovakia
Switzerland

Venue

The venue is the Rio Maior Sports Centre in Rio Maior.

Rio Maior		Rio Maior
		Rio Maior Sports Centre
		Capacity:

Draw

The draw was held on 7 February 2025 at 10:30 CET in Zagreb, Croatia. The seeding was based off the European rankings.^[4]^[5]

Seeding

Pot 1	Pot 2	Pot 3	Pot 4
Slovakia Israel Bulgaria Lithuania	Switzerland Great Britain Czechia Portugal	~~Finland~~ Ireland Moldova Belgium	Austria Denmark

Preliminary round

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

All times are local (Western European Summer Time; UTC+1).

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Moldova	2	2	0	35	20	+15	6	Quarterfinals
2	Slovakia	2	1	1	27	25	+2	3	Crossovers
3	Czechia	2	0	2	19	36	−17	0	Crossovers

Source: European U-18 Water Polo Division I
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 12:30	Report	Slovakia	11–15	Moldova	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Georg Schoen (AUT), Eurico Silva (POR)
		Score by quarters: 4–3, 2–4, 0–4, 5–4
		Velsic, Luc 3	Goals	Mihaila 5

19 August 2025 10:45	Report	Moldova	20–9	Czechia	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Georg Schoen (AUT), Martin Sand Kristensen (DEN)
		Score by quarters: 5–1, 4–2, 6–3, 5–3
		Mihaila 5	Goals	Pashkovsky 3

20 August 2025 19:00	Report	Czechia	10–16	Slovakia	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 2–3, 4–2, 3–7, 1–4

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Bulgaria	3	3	0	74	30	+44	9	Quarterfinals
2	Switzerland	3	1	2	39	44	−5	3^[a]	Crossovers
3	Denmark	3	1	2	28	45	−17	3^[a]	Crossovers
4	Ireland	3	1	2	33	55	−22	3^[a]	9th–13th place quarterfinal

Source: European U-18 Water Polo Division I
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.
Notes:

^ ^a ^b ^c HTH: Switzerland 1–1, +4 GD; Denmark 1–1, −2 GD; Ireland 1–1, −2 GD. Denmark is ahead of Ireland due to their head to head result.

18 August 2025 17:15	Report	Bulgaria	28–8	Ireland	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Robert Prelovsky (SVK), Tomas Kaseta (LTU)
		Score by quarters: 9–1, 9–1, 4–3, 6–3
		Ganchev 8	Goals	Byrne 3

19 August 2025 9:00	Report	Switzerland	12–6	Denmark	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Karel Dvoracek (CZE), Jonathan Richards (GBR)
		Score by quarters: 5–3, 2–0, 2–1, 3–2
		Luthi 3	Goals	Deleuran, Rankovic 3

19 August 2025 15:30	Report	Denmark	14–10	Ireland	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Tomas Kaseta (LTU), Alain D'hossche (BEL)
		Score by quarters: 4–3, 4–2, 4–4, 2–1
		Deleuran 4	Goals	Byrne 3

19 August 2025 17:15	Report	Bulgaria	23–14	Switzerland	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Eurico Silva (POR), Tal Shildan (ISR)
		Score by quarters: 5–5, 4–3, 7–2, 7–4
		Ganchev, Venov 5	Goals	Bozzo 4

20 August 2025 09:00	Report	Bulgaria	23–8	Denmark	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Georg Schoen (AUT), Jonathan Richards (GBR)
		Score by quarters: 3–3, 8–1, 7–3, 5–1
		Venov 7	Goals	Deleuran, Kok 2

20 August 2025 10:45	Report	Switzerland	13–15	Ireland	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Alain D'hossche (BEL), Tal Shildan (ISR)
		Score by quarters: 7–4, 1–4, 2–4, 3–3
		Ribatti, Rutz 4	Goals	Byrne 7

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Israel	3	3	0	55	32	+23	9	Quarterfinals
2	Belgium	3	2	1	52	35	+17	6	Quarterfinals
3	Great Britain	3	1	2	40	41	−1	3	Crossovers
4	Austria	3	0	3	33	72	−39	0	9th–13th place quarterfinal

Source: European U-18 Water Polo Division I
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 09:00	Report	Israel	14–12	Belgium	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Declan McKerr (IRL), Martin Sand Kristensen (DEN)
		Score by quarters: 3–0, 5–3, 3–3, 3–6
		Dercksen, Gal-on 3	Goals	Sergeant 4

18 August 2025 10:45	Report	Great Britain	20–12	Austria	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Ruben Garcia (SUI), Alexandru-Andrei Mustata (ROU)
		Score by quarters: 4–2, 5–3, 6–5, 5–2
		Mathieson 6	Goals	Hagljan, Pourazim 3

19 August 2025 12:30	Report	Austria	9–26	Belgium	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Robert Prelovsky (SVK), Ruben Garcia (SUI)
		Score by quarters: 2–5, 2–6, 3–8, 2–7
		Hagljan, Vranjes 2	Goals	Viaene 5

19 August 2025 14:00	Report	Israel	15–8	Great Britain	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Karel Dvoracek (CZE), Risto Damchevski (MKD)
		Score by quarters: 3–2, 6–4, 1–0, 5–2
		Goshen 4	Goals	Mathieson, Bamborough 2

20 August 2025 12:30	Report	Israel	26–12	Austria	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Risto Damchevski (MKD), Martin Sand Kristensen (DEN)
		Score by quarters: 6–3, 8–1, 6–3, 6–5
		Mordechalevitch 6	Goals	four players 2

20 August 2025 17:15	Report	Great Britain	12–14	Belgium	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 2–3, 2–3, 2–4, 6–4

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	PSW	PSL	GF	GA	Pts	Qualification
1	Portugal (H)	1	1	0	13	13	2	Quarterfinals
2	Lithuania	1	0	1	13	13	1	Crossovers
3	~~Finland~~	0	0	0	0	0	0	Withdrew

Source: European U-18 Water Polo Division I
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

19 August 2025 19:00	Report	Portugal	16–14 (PSO)	Lithuania	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior Referees: Alexandru-Andrei Mustata (ROU), Declan McKerr (IRL)
		Score by quarters: 2–4, 4–2, 2–4, 5–3 PSO: 3–1
		Pereira 4	Goals	Pasuk 6

Brackets

Main bracket

22 August

A1

Moldova

8

C2
Belgium

9

23 August

C2
Belgium

16

B1

Bulgaria

15

22 August

B1
Bulgaria

21

21 August

D2

Lithuania

9

D2
Lithuania

19

24 August

C3

Great Britain

14

C2

Belgium

9

C1
Israel

12

22 August

C1
Israel

15

21 August

A2

Slovakia

3

A2
Slovakia

21

23 August

B3

Denmark

4

C1
Israel

13

D1

Portugal

8

Third place game

22 August

24 August

D1
Portugal

9

B1
Bulgaria

22

21 August

B2

Switzerland

8

D1

Portugal

13

B2
Switzerland

9

A3

Czech Republic

8

5th place bracket

5th–8th place semifinals		Fifth place game

23 August

A1 Moldova	18
		24 August
A2 Slovakia	13
		A1 Moldova	18
23 August
		B2 Switzerland	8
D2 Lithuania	8

B2 Switzerland	9
		Seventh place game

		24 August

		A2 Slovakia	8

		D2 Lithuania	12

9th place bracket

9th–13th place quarterfinal		9th–12th place semifinals		Ninth place game




		22 August

		B3 Denmark	9
21 August
		C4 Austria	12
B4 Ireland	12
				23 August
C4 Austria	15
				C4 Austria	12

				C3 Great Britain	14

		22 August

		A3 Czech Republic	9

		C3 Great Britain	12	Eleventh place game

				23 August

				B3 Denmark	8

				A3 Czech Republic	9

Knockout stage

Crossovers

21 August 2025 12:30	Report	Slovakia	21–4	Denmark	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 6–1, 8–1, 3–1, 4–1

21 August 2025 17:15	Report	Switzerland	9–8	Czech Republic	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 4–2, 2–1, 3–2, 0–3

21 August 2025 19:00	Report	Lithuania	19–14	Great Britain	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 3–5, 8–4, 6–1, 2–4

9th–13th place quarterfinal

21 August 2025 10:45	Report	Ireland	12–15	Austria	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 1–2, 5–4, 2–3, 4–6

9th–12th place semifinals

22 August 2025 9:00	Report	Denmark	9–12 (PSO)	Austria	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 3–2, 4–1, 0–2, 4–4 PSO: 0–3

22 August 2025 10:45	Report	Czech Republic	9–12	Great Britain	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 1–5, 4–2, 2–2, 2–3

Eleventh place game

23 August 2025 9:00	Report	Denmark	8–9	Czech Republic	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 4–2, 0–5, 1–1

Ninth place game

23 August 2025 10:45	Report	Austria	12–14	Great Britain	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 1–3, 3–3, 5–4, 3–4

Quarterfinals

22 August 2025 12:30	Report	Moldova	8–9	Belgium	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 2–2, 2–2, 2–3, 2–2

22 August 2025 15:30	Report	Bulgaria	21–9	Lithuania	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 6–0, 6–4, 6–4

22 August 2025 17:15	Report	Israel	15–3	Slovakia	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 3–0, 6–1, 2–1, 4–1

22 August 2025 19:00	Report	Portugal	9–8	Switzerland	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 1–2, 3–1, 1–3, 4–2

5th–8th place semifinals

23 August 2025 12:30	Report	Moldova	18–13	Slovakia	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 5–2, 6–1, 3–3, 4–7

23 August 2025 15:30	Report	Lithuania	8–9	Switzerland	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 2–2, 3–1, 2–4, 1–2

Seventh place game

24 August 2025 9:00	Report	Slovakia	8–12	Lithuania	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 2–2, 1–4, 1–2, 4–4

Fifth place game

24 August 2025 10:45	Report	Moldova	18–8	Switzerland	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 4–5, 4–0, 5–0, 5–3

Semifinals

23 August 2025 17:15	Report	Belgium	16–15 (PSO)	Bulgaria	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 4–3, 2–1, 2–3, 3–4 PSO: 5–4

23 August 2025 19:00	Report	Israel	13–8	Portugal	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 4–5, 3–2, 3–0

Third place game

24 August 2025 12:30	Report	Bulgaria	22–13	Portugal	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 3–1, 7–1, 7–6, 5–5

Final

24 August 2025 15:30	Report	Belgium	9–12	Israel	Rio Maior Sports Centre, Rio Maior
		Score by quarters: 2–3, 3–0, 2–5, 2–4

Final standings

Rank	Team
	Israel
	Belgium
	Bulgaria
4	Portugal
5	Moldova
6	Switzerland
7	Lithuania
8	Slovakia
9	Great Britain
10	Austria
11	Czech Republic
12	Denmark
13	Ireland
WD	Finland

	Promoted to the 2027 Men's European U-18 Water Polo Championship (Elite)

References

^ ^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®".
^ https://europeanaquatics.org/mens-u18-water-polo-championships-schedules-for-oradea-and-rio-maior/
^ "Full line-ups for 2025 Men's and Women's U16 and U18 European Water Polo Championships confirmed - European Aquatics®". January 22, 2025.
^ "U16 & U18 European Championships draws set up thrilling summer - European Aquatics®". February 7, 2025.
^ Curcic, Ivan (February 7, 2025). "New format of European cadet and youth Championships; groups determined".
^ https://europeanaquatics.org/mens-u18-water-polo-championships-schedules-for-oradea-and-rio-maior/

External links

Official website

[table_hth_SUI0.10306215896414-7] HTH: Switzerland 1–1, +4 GD; Denmark 1–1, −2 GD; Ireland 1–1, −2 GD. Denmark is ahead of Ireland due to their head to head result.

[auto-1] 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] ttps://europeanaquatics.org/mens-u18-water-polo-championships-schedules-for-oradea-and-rio-maior/

[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] ttps://europeanaquatics.org/mens-u18-water-polo-championships-schedules-for-oradea-and-rio-maior/

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[a]

Host selection

Participating teams

Venue

Draw

Seeding

Preliminary round

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Brackets

Main bracket

5th place bracket

9th place bracket

Knockout stage

Crossovers

9th–13th place quarterfinal

9th–12th place semifinals

Eleventh place game

Ninth place game

Quarterfinals

5th–8th place semifinals

Seventh place game

Fifth place game

Semifinals

Third place game

Final

Final standings

See also

References

External links