The national teams of Australia, Croatia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Serbia, South Africa and USA will meet in Almaty (KAZ) for the 15th edition of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World Cup, organised from August 19-24, 2014.
Buoyed by their FINA World League title last June, defending FINA World Cup champion Serbia is the team to beat in this tournament, held every four years.
2012 Olympic champion Croatia and reigning World champion Hungary are also in the battle for top honours in Almaty. World silver medallist Montenegro is a strong podium contender, as well, while long-established water polo powerhouses Australia and USA will certainly prove tough rivals to the European squads. Host Kazakhstan, who achieved its best result (5th) at the 2012 World League, and South Africa, will surely try to rise higher in the ranks of the world’s water polo teams in Almaty.
The Programme of the 2014 edition is as follows:
Group A: South Africa, Montenegro, Serbia, USA
Group B: Croatia, Kazakhstan, Australia, Hungary
Day 1 (Aug 19): MNE-SRB, CRO-HUN, RSA-USA, KAZ-AUS
Day 2 (Aug 20): CRO-AUS, MNE-USA, RSA-SRB, KAZ-HUN
Day 3 (Aug 21): MNE-RSA, AUS-HUN, SRB-USA, KAZ-CRO
Day 4 (Aug 22): Quarterfinal round
Day 5 (Aug 23): Semi-final round
Day 6 (Aug 24): Final round
Medallists of the FINA Men’s World Cups:
1979: 1. HUN, 2. USA, 3. YUG
1981: 1. URS, 2. YUG, 3. CUB
1983: 1. URS, 2. FRG, 3. ITA
1985: 1. FRG, 2. USA, 3. ESP
1987: 1. YUG, 2. URS, 3. FRG
1989: 1. YUG, 2. ITA, 3. HUN
1991: 1. USA, 2. YUG, 3. ESP
1993: 1. ITA, 2. HUN, 3.AUS
1995: 1. HUN, 2. ITA, 3. RUS
1997: 1. USA, 2. GRE, 3. HUN
1999: 1. HUN, 2. ITA, 3. ESP
2002: 1. RUS, 2. HUN, 3. YUG
2006: 1. SCG, 2. HUN, 3. ESP
2010: 1. SRB, 2. CRO, 3. ESP
Water Polo News / Swimming News courtesy of FINA.
