FINA Water Polo World League

FINA Water Polo World League

Sport	Water Polo
Founded	2002
Continent	all (International)
Most recent champion(s)	Men's:  Serbia (10th title) Women's:  United States (10th title)
Most titles	Men's:  Serbia (10 titles) Women's:  United States (10 titles)

The FINA Water Polo World League is an international water polo league organized by FINA, which plays annually, typically from winter through to June.^[1] League play features continental tournaments for men and women, from which the top teams emerge to play in the championship tournament (the "Super Final") where the league champion team is crowned. Men's league play began in 2002,^[2] to capitalize on increased worldwide popularity of water polo created by the 2000 Olympic Games, especially in Europe, North America and Australia. The women’s league was added in 2004,^[3] based on growing interest in women's play.

Play format

Matches consist of four eight-minute quarters, with a five-minute half-time break. Tie games are decided by an immediate penalty shootout. The game venues have television requirements to bring the sport to the biggest audience possible. Rule changes were made to provide more spectacular play and yield higher scores.

Preliminary rounds of play are organized by continent: Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe. The structure of continental play varies within the league. For example, for 2012, the Americas has a single tournament for each sex, Asia/Oceania has 2 tournaments for each sex on consecutive weekends, and Europe has 6 weekends of play for men and 2 for women.^[4]

Results

Men

FINA Men's Water Polo World League
Year	Host	Winner	Runner-up	3rd place
2002	Patras, Greece	Russia	Spain	Hungary
2003	New York, USA	Hungary	Italy	United States
2004	Long Beach, USA	Hungary	Serbia and Montenegro	Greece
2005	Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro	Serbia and Montenegro	Hungary	Germany
2006	Athens, Greece	Serbia and Montenegro	Spain	Greece
2007	Berlin, Germany	Serbia	Hungary	Australia
2008	Genoa, Italy	Serbia	United States	Australia
2009	Podgorica, Montenegro	Montenegro	Croatia	Serbia
2010	Niš, Serbia	Serbia	Montenegro	Croatia
2011	Florence, Italy	Serbia	Italy	Croatia
2012	Almaty, Kazakhstan	Croatia	Spain	Italy
2013	Chelyabinsk, Russia	Serbia	Hungary	Montenegro
2014	Dubai, UAE	Serbia	Hungary	Montenegro
2015	Bergamo, Italy	Serbia	Croatia	Brazil
2016	Huizhou, China	Serbia	United States	Greece
2017

Men's medal standings

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Serbia*	10	1	1	12
2	Hungary	2	4	1	7
3	Croatia	1	2	2	5
3	Montenegro	1	1	2	4
5	Russia	1	-	-	1
6	Spain	-	3	-	3
7	Italy	-	2	1	3
	United States	-	2	1	3
9	Greece	-	-	3	3
10	Australia	-	-	2	2
11	Brazil	-	-	1	1
	Germany	-	-	1	1

* includes matches played as Serbia and Montenegro.

Statistic

Participation details

Legend

• 1st – Champions
• 2nd – Runners-up
• 3rd – Third place
• 4th – Fourth place
• QF – Quarterfinals
•  ×  — Did not enter qualifications
•  •  — Did not qualify for the final tournament
•  ••  — Qualified but withdrew
•    — Hosts

Team	2002 (4)	2003 (6)	2004 (6)	2005 (6)	2006 (6)	2007 (8)	2008 (10)	2009 (8)	2010 (8)	2011 (8)	2012 (8)	2013 (8)	2014 (8)	2015 (8)	2016 (8)	YQ / YP
Algeria	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/3
Argentina	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	0/1
Australia	×	•	•	•	4th	3rd	3rd	6th	4th	6th	7th	×	4th	5th	5th	10/13
Brazil	•	•	•	•	•	×	×	×	•	×	8th	8th	7th	3rd	7th	5/11
Canada	×	×	×	•	•	7th	6th	×	×	7th	•	•	6th	•	×	4/9
China	×	×	×	•	•	8th	9th	×	7th	8th	6th	6th	8th	8th	8th	9/11
Croatia	•	×	×	4th	•	•	•	2nd	3rd	3rd	1st	•	•	2nd	•	6/13
Egypt	×	×	×	×	×	×	10th	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	1/1
France	×	×	×	×	6th	×	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	•	•	1/5
Georgia	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	0/1
Germany	×	×	×	3rd	•	4th	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×	2/10
Great Britain	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	0/1
Greece	4th	5th	3rd	5th	3rd	•	8th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	3rd	7/15
Hungary	3rd	1st	1st	2nd	×	2nd	×	×	×	×	×	2nd	2nd	6th	•	8/9
Iran	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/3
Italy	•	2nd	4th	•	•	•	7th	5th	•	2nd	3rd	•	•	7th	4th	8/15
Japan	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	7th	•	•	•	7th	•	•	6th	3/11
Kazakhstan	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	5th	×	•	•	•	1/5
Libya	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
Macedonia	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	0/3
Mexico	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
Montenegro	Part of  Serbia and Montenegro					•	4th	1st	2nd	5th	×	3rd	3rd	•	•	6/8
Morocco	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/3
Netherlands	×	6th	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	1/2
New Zealand	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	×	•	×	×	×	0/5
Puerto Rico	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
Romania	×	×	×	•	•	6th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1/12
Russia	1st	×	×	6th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	5th	•	•	•	3/13
Serbia	Part of  Serbia and Montenegro					1st	1st	3rd	1st	1st	×	1st	1st	1st	1st	9/9
Serbia and Montenegro	×	4th	2nd	1st	1st	official successor is  Serbia										4/4
Slovakia	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	×	0/2
South Africa	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	8th	8th	×	×	×	×	×	×	2/2
Spain	2nd	×	5th	•	2nd	•	5th	•	6th	•	2nd	•	×	•	•	6/12
Tunisia	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/2
Turkey	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	×	•	•	0/6
United States	•	3rd	6th	•	5th	5th	2nd	4th	5th	4th	4th	4th	5th	4th	2nd	13/15
Venezuela	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1

After 2015 World League

National team	Total*					X	Super Final
	App	W%	Pld	W**	L**		A%	App	F4	W%	Pld	W**	L**
Algeria	3	0.533	15	8	7	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Argentina	1	0.000	6	0	6	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Australia	12	0.645	141	91	50	X	0.750	9	5	0.418	55	23	32
Brazil	10	0.230	87	20	67	X	0.400	4	1	0.250	24	6	18
Canada	9	0.288	66	19	47	X	0.444	4	0	0.292	24	7	17
China	10	0.368	114	42	72	X	0.800	8	0	0.130	46	6	40
Croatia	12	0.645	121	78	43	X	0.500	6	6	0.706	34	24	10
Egypt	1	0.429	7	3	4	X	1.000	1	0	0.000	4	0	4
France	4	0.222	36	8	28	X	0.250	1	0	0.000	7	0	7
Germany	10	0.333	75	25	50	X	0.200	2	2	0.625	8	5	3
Great Britain	1	0.000	4	0	4	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Greece	14	0.460	126	58	68	X	0.429	6	3	0.346	26	9	17
Hungary	8	0.825	97	80	17	X	1.000	8	7	0.694	36	25	11
Iran	3	0.083	24	2	22	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Italy	14	0.598	132	79	53	X	0.500	7	4	0.559	34	19	15
Japan	10	0.387	75	29	46	X	0.200	2	0	0.250	12	3	9
Kazakhstan	5	0.293	41	12	29	X	0.200	1	0	0.333	6	2	4
Libya	1	0.000	6	0	6	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Macedonia	3	0.188	16	3	13	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Mexico	1	0.333	3	1	2	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Montenegro	8	0.767	86	66	20	X	0.750	6	5	0.694	36	25	11
Morocco	3	0.200	15	3	12	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Netherlands	2	0.091	11	1	10	X	0.500	1	0	0.000	2	0	2
New Zealand	5	0.111	36	4	32	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Puerto Rico	1	0.000	3	0	3	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Romania	11	0.413	75	31	44	X	0.091	1	0	0.500	6	3	3
Russia	12	0.421	95	40	55	X	0.250	3	1	0.500	14	7	7
Serbia***	12	0.895	143	128	15	X	1.000	12	12	0.937	63	59	4
Slovakia	2	0.083	12	1	11	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
South Africa	2	0.500	24	12	12	X	1.000	2	0	0.000	12	0	12
Spain	12	0.581	124	72	52	X	0.500	6	3	0.567	30	17	13
Tunisia	2	0.444	9	4	5	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
Turkey	5	0.031	32	1	31	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
United States	14	0.572	138	79	59	X	0.857	12	7	0.485	66	32	34
Venezuela	1	0.000	4	0	4	X	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0

• *Since 2007 Preliminary Round is played among teams from the same regions (Asia/Oceania, Americas or Asia/Oceania/Americas, Africa and Europe) so for statistic to be effective consider Europe independently.
• **Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.
• ***Serbia's total includes appearances as  Serbia and Montenegro.

Women

FINA Women's Water Polo World League
Year	Host	Winner	Runner-up	3rd Place
2004	Long Beach, USA	United States	Hungary	Italy
2005	Kirishi, Russia	Greece	Russia	Australia
2006	Cosenza, Italy	United States	Italy	Russia
2007	Montreal, Canada	United States	Australia	Greece
2008	Santa Cruz, Spain	Russia	United States	Australia
2009	Kirishi, Russia	United States	Canada	Australia
2010	La Jolla, USA	United States	Australia	Greece
2011	Tianjin, China	United States	Italy	Australia
2012	Changshu, China	United States	Australia	Greece
2013	Beijing, China	China	Russia	United States
2014	Kunshan, China	United States	Italy	Australia
2015	Shanghai, China	United States	Australia	Netherlands
2016	Shanghai, China	United States	Spain	Australia
2017

Women's medal standings

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States	10	1	1	12
2	Russia	1	2	1	4
3	Greece	1	-	3	4
4	China	1	-	-	1
5	Australia	-	4	6	10
6	Italy	-	3	1	4
7	Canada	-	1	-	1
	Hungary	-	1	-	1
	Spain	-	1	-	1
10	Netherlands	-	-	1	1

Statistic

Participation details

Legend

• 1st – Champions
• 2nd – Runners-up
• 3rd – Third place
• 4th – Fourth place
• QF – Quarterfinals
•  ×  — Did not enter qualifications
•  •  — Did not qualify for the final tournament
•  ••  — Qualified but withdrew
•    — Hosts

Team	2004 (8)	2005 (8)	2006 (6)	2007 (6)	2008 (6)	2009 (8)	2010 (8)	2011 (8)	2012 (8)	2013 (8)	2014 (8)	2015 (8)	2016 (8)	Years
Australia	7th	3rd	4th	2nd	3rd	3rd	2nd	3rd	2nd	7th	3rd	2nd	3rd	13
Brazil	×	•	•	×	×	×	•	×	•	×	8th	8th	8th	3
Canada	5th	6th	6th	4th	4th	2nd	8th	6th	7th	8th	6th	6th	7th	13
China	×	×	•	6th	5th	5th	5th	4th	4th	1st	4th	4th	4th	10
France	×	•	•	×	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	•	•	0
Germany	×	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	6th	×	×	•	•	1
Great Britain	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	×	•	×	×	0
Greece	6th	1st	•	3rd	•	7th	3rd	7th	3rd	•	•	•	•	7
Hungary	2nd	4th	×	•	×	×	6th	•	•	4th	•	•	•	4
Italy	3rd	8th	2nd	×	•	8th	•	2nd	8th	6th	2nd	7th	5th	10
Japan	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	0
Kazakhstan	8th	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	•	•	×	1
Netherlands	×	7th	5th	•	×	×	7th	×	•	•	×	3rd	•	4
New Zealand	×	×	•	•	×	•	×	•	×	×	×	•	×	0
Puerto Rico	×	×	×	•	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	0
Russia	4th	2nd	3rd	•	1st	6th	4th	5th	5th	2nd	7th	5th	6th	12
Spain	×	•	•	5th	6th	4th	•	8th	•	5th	5th	•	2nd	7
South Africa	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	0
United States	1st	5th	1st	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	3rd	1st	1st	1st	13

References

1. Water Polo World League page of the FINA website; retrieved 2012-03-03.
2. HistoFINA, Volume 8, part A, p.36; published by FINA in 2007. Retrieved 2012-03-03. ("HistoFINA" is FINA's self-history, volume 8 deals with Water Polo, this is part 1 of 2 for the volume.)
3. HistoFINA, Volume 8, part B, p.65; published by FINA in 2007. Retrieved 2012-03-03. ("HistoFINA" is FINA's self-history, volume 8 deals with Water Polo, this is part 2 of 2 for the volume.)
4. FINA Water Polo World League 2012 Edition - Programme, published 2012-02-27; retrieved 2012-03-03.

External links

• FINA water polo official site
• Water Polo page of FINA's old website (2010 and earlier).