# Underwater Hockey World Championships

The Underwater Hockey World Championship is the peak international event for the underwater sport of Underwater Hockey. The event is conducted on behalf of the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) by an affiliated national federation.

## History

The championship was first held in 1980 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada after the intended initial championship scheduled for 1979 was beset by difficulties and ultimately postponed, due to the invitation of a team from South Africa and the problems associated with apartheid.
Subsequently, a world championship has been held every two years in locations around the world up until 2006. 2006 saw many CMAS-affiliated national federations as well as the majority of the CMAS Underwater Hockey Commission members in dispute with CMAS over policy and governance matters concerning underwater hockey. Out of the divide the World Aquachallenge Association (WAA) - an alternative governing body - was born.
In 2007 CMAS intended to incorporate the Underwater Hockey World Championship into its inaugural World Games event in Bari, Italy, an ambitious event intended to showcase all of the underwater disciplines (Underwater Rugby, Finswimming etc) governed by them in one place. As far as underwater hockey goes this event was poorly attended, in part due to it being 'out of synch' with many affiliated federations' training calendars and budgets. The following year - the 'normal' world championship year - the WAA organised their 'rival' 1st World Championship event in Durban, South Africa. This is now held by many to have been the official 2008 World Championship despite it being poorly attended too, in part this time because CMAS organised a major underwater hockey 'zone' event to be held in Istanbul, Turkey on exactly the same dates meaning a majority of European federations were forced to choose which championship their representative teams attended.
The WAA was short-lived and since 2008 CMAS has once again administered all the world championship events in various age/gender divisions with the most recent having been held in Quebec City, Canada in 2018. World championships in the different age categories are now scheduled for every second year.

## Editions summary
### Championships conducted by CMAS

Source:
| Key | Cancelled |

#### Senior

| Year | Date | Championship | Location | Nations | Events | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place |
| 1980 | July 12 – 16 | 1st World Championship | Vancouver, Canada | 5 | Men's | Netherlands | Great Britain | Australia | Canada |
| 1982 | February 20 – 25 | 2nd World Championship | Brisbane, Australia | 2 | Men's | Australia | New Zealand | — | — |
| 1982 | February 20 – 25 | 2nd World Championship | Brisbane, Australia | 3 | Women's | Australia | New Zealand | Canada | — |
| 1984 | May 1 – 10 | 3rd World Championship | Chicago, United States | 8 | Men's | Australia | Netherlands | Great Britain | United States |
| 1984 | May 1 – 10 | 3rd World Championship | Chicago, United States | 8 | Women's | Australia | New Zealand | United States | Canada |
| 1986 | April 16 – 27 | 4th World Championship | Adelaide, Australia | 7 | Men's | Canada | Australia | New Zealand | Netherlands |
| 1986 | April 16 – 27 | 4th World Championship | Adelaide, Australia | 2 | Women's | Australia | New Zealand | — | — |
| 1988 | April 5 – 13 | 5th World Championship | Amersfoort, Netherlands | 9 | Men's | Australia | Netherlands | Canada | New Zealand |
| 1988 | April 5 – 13 | 5th World Championship | Amersfoort, Netherlands | 9 | Women's | New Zealand | United States | Australia | Great Britain |
| 1990 | May 31 – June 9 | 6th World Championship | Montreal, Canada | 9 | Men's | Australia | Great Britain | Canada | New Zealand |
| 1990 | May 31 – June 9 | 6th World Championship | Montreal, Canada | 9 | Women's | Australia | New Zealand | United States | Great Britain |
| 1992 | May 12 – 20 | 7th World Championship | Wellington, New Zealand | 9 | Men's Elite | Australia | New Zealand | South Africa | Great Britain |
| 1992 | May 12 – 20 | 7th World Championship | Wellington, New Zealand | 9 | Men's Masters | Australia | New Zealand | — | — |
| 1992 | May 12 – 20 | 7th World Championship | Wellington, New Zealand | 9 | Women's | South Africa | Australia | New Zealand | Great Britain |
| 1994 | April 17 – 24 | 8th World Championship | Grand Couronne, France | 10 | Men's Elite | Australia | South Africa | United States | France |
| 1994 | April 17 – 24 | 8th World Championship | Grand Couronne, France | 10 | Men's Masters | South Africa | Great Britain | Australia | France |
| 1994 | April 17 – 24 | 8th World Championship | Grand Couronne, France | 10 | Women's | Australia | South Africa | Great Britain | France |
| 1996 | July 11 – 20 | 9th World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 11 | Men's Elite | Australia | South Africa | New Zealand | Netherlands |
| 1996 | July 11 – 20 | 9th World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 11 | Men's Masters | South Africa | Australia | Great Britain | United States |
| 1996 | July 11 – 20 | 9th World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 11 | Women's | South Africa | Australia | France | New Zealand |
| 1998 | June 4 – 13 | 10th World Championship | San José, United States | 14 | Men's Elite | France | South Africa | Australia | New Zealand |
| 1998 | June 4 – 13 | 10th World Championship | San José, United States | 14 | Men's Masters | South Africa | Great Britain | United States | Australia |
| 1998 | June 4 – 13 | 10th World Championship | San José, United States | 14 | Women's Elite | South Africa | Australia | United States | Canada |
| 1998 | June 4 – 13 | 10th World Championship | San José, United States | 14 | Women's Masters | South Africa | United States | Great Britain | — |
| 2000 | April 25 – 29 | 11th World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 15 | Men's Elite | Australia | France | Canada | South Africa |
| 2000 | April 25 – 29 | 11th World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 15 | Men's Masters | Australia | South Africa | New Zealand | United States |
| 2000 | April 25 – 29 | 11th World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 15 | Women's Elite | Australia | Canada | South Africa | United States |
| 2000 | April 25 – 29 | 11th World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 15 | Women's Masters | South Africa | Australia | New Zealand | Great Britain |
| 2002 | July 20 – 28 | 12th World Championship | Calgary, Canada | 13 | Men's Elite | Australia | New Zealand | France | Netherlands |
| 2002 | July 20 – 28 | 12th World Championship | Calgary, Canada | 13 | Men's Masters | United States | South Africa | Great Britain | Canada |
| 2002 | July 20 – 28 | 12th World Championship | Calgary, Canada | 13 | Women's Elite | Australia | Canada | South Africa | Great Britain |
| 2002 | July 20 – 28 | 12th World Championship | Calgary, Canada | 13 | Women's Masters | South Africa | Australia | United States | Great Britain |
| 2002 | July 20 – 28 | 12th World Championship | Calgary, Canada | 13 | Youth | Great Britain | United States | Canada | — |
| 2004 | March 22 – 31 | 13th World Championship | Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 | Men's: Elite | New Zealand | Australia | France | Netherlands |
| 2004 | March 22 – 31 | 13th World Championship | Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 | Men's: Masters | United States | Australia | France | Great Britain |
| 2004 | March 22 – 31 | 13th World Championship | Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 | Men's: U-19 | New Zealand | Great Britain | Australia | United States |
| 2004 | March 22 – 31 | 13th World Championship | Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 | Women's: Elite | Netherlands | New Zealand | South Africa | France |
| 2004 | March 22 – 31 | 13th World Championship | Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 | Women's: Masters | United States | Australia | France | Great Britain |
| 2004 | March 22 – 31 | 13th World Championship | Christchurch, New Zealand | 9 | Women's: U-19 | New Zealand | Great Britain | South Africa | — |
| 2006 | August 15 – 24 | 14th World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 17 | Men's: Elite | New Zealand | Netherlands | France | Australia |
| 2006 | August 15 – 24 | 14th World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 17 | Men's: Masters | United States | South Africa | France | Great Britain |
| 2006 | August 15 – 24 | 14th World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 17 | Men's: U-19 | New Zealand | Great Britain | France | Canada |
| 2006 | August 15 – 24 | 14th World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 17 | Women's: Elite | Australia | South Africa | Netherlands | Great Britain |
| 2006 | August 15 – 24 | 14th World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 17 | Women's: Masters | United States | Great Britain | Canada | — |
| 2006 | August 15 – 24 | 14th World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 17 | Women's: U-19 | New Zealand | Great Britain | South Africa | — |
| 2007 | July 31 – August 4 | Disputed 15th World Championship (Part of 1st CMAS Games) | Bari, Italy | 6 | Men's: Elite | France | Turkey | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2007 | July 31 – August 4 | Disputed 15th World Championship (Part of 1st CMAS Games) | Bari, Italy | 4 | Women's: Elite | France | Turkey | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2009 | August 21 – 29 | 16th World Championship | Kranj, Slovenia | 12 | Men's: Elite | France | South Africa | Great Britain | Turkey |
| 2009 | August 21 – 29 | 16th World Championship | Kranj, Slovenia | 7 | Women's: Elite | Great Britain | South Africa | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2011 | August 16 – 27 | 17th World Championship | Coimbra, Portugal | 10 | Men's: Elite | Australia | South Africa | Colombia | France |
| 2011 | August 16 – 27 | 17th World Championship | Coimbra, Portugal | 8 | Women's: Elite | Great Britain | Australia | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 18th World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 15 | Men's: Elite | France | New Zealand | Australia | Great Britain |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 18th World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 9 | Men's: Masters | Australia | Netherlands | Great Britain | Unknown |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 18th World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 16 | Women's: Elite | New Zealand | Great Britain | South Africa | Australia |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 18th World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 6 | Women's: Masters | Australia | South Africa | Great Britain | Unknown |
| 2016 | March 22 – April 2 | 19th World Championship | Stellenbosch, South Africa | 14 | Men's: Elite | Australia | Turkey | Great Britain | Colombia |
| 2016 | March 22 – April 2 | 19th World Championship | Stellenbosch, South Africa | 13 | Men's: Masters | Australia | Great Britain | France | Netherlands |
| 2016 | March 22 – April 2 | 19th World Championship | Stellenbosch, South Africa | 9 | Women's: Elite | South Africa | New Zealand | France | Colombia |
| 2016 | March 22 – April 2 | 19th World Championship | Stellenbosch, South Africa | 8 | Women's: Masters | Australia | South Africa | Colombia | France |
| 2018 | July 18 – 28 | 20th World Championship | Quebec City, Canada | 14 | Men's: Elite | New Zealand | France | Turkey | Great Britain |
| 2018 | July 18 – 28 | 20th World Championship | Quebec City, Canada | 13 | Men's: Masters | France | South Africa | Canada | Great Britain |
| 2018 | July 18 – 28 | 20th World Championship | Quebec City, Canada | 9 | Women's: Elite | New Zealand | Great Britain | Colombia | South Africa |
| 2018 | July 18 – 28 | 20th World Championship | Quebec City, Canada | 6 | Women's: Masters | France | Australia | Colombia | Canada |
| 2020, moved to 2021 | July 20– August 1 | 21st World Championship cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Gold Coast, Australia | N/A | Men's: Elite | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2020, moved to 2021 | July 20– August 1 | 21st World Championship cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Gold Coast, Australia | N/A | Men's: Masters | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2020, moved to 2021 | July 20– August 1 | 21st World Championship cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Gold Coast, Australia | N/A | Women's: Elite | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2020, moved to 2021 | July 20– August 1 | 21st World Championship cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Gold Coast, Australia | N/A | Women's: Masters | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Men's: Elite | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Men's: Masters | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Women's: Elite | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Women's: Masters | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2023 | July 18 – 30 | 21st World Championship | Gold Coast, Australia | 12 | Men's: Elite | New Zealand | France | Great Britain | Turkey |
| 2023 | July 18 – 30 | 21st World Championship | Gold Coast, Australia | 8 | Men's: Masters | United States | France | New Zealand | Australia |
| 2023 | July 18 – 30 | 21st World Championship | Gold Coast, Australia | 13 | Women's: Elite | Australia | France | Colombia | Great Britain |
| 2023 | July 18 – 30 | 21st World Championship | Gold Coast, Australia | 5 | Women's: Masters | France | Australia | New Zealand | United States |

#### Junior

| Year | Date | Championship | Location | Nations | Events | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 2nd Junior World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 6 | Men's: U-23 | New Zealand | Australia | Colombia | France |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 2nd Junior World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 7 | Men's: U-19 | Colombia | New Zealand | France | Australia |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 2nd Junior World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 5 | Women's: U-23 | New Zealand | Colombia | Great Britain | Turkey |
| 2013 | August 23 – September 1 | 2nd Junior World Championship | Eger, Hungary | 4 | Women's: U-19 | New Zealand | Colombia | South Africa | Australia |
| 2015 | August 6 – 15 | 3rd Junior World Championship | Castello de la Plana, Spain | 8 | Men's: U-23 | Turkey | Australia | New Zealand | Colombia |
| 2015 | August 6 – 15 | 3rd Junior World Championship | Castello de la Plana, Spain | 10 | Men's: U-19 | New Zealand | France | Colombia | Great Britain |
| 2015 | August 6 – 15 | 3rd Junior World Championship | Castello de la Plana, Spain | 8 | Women's: U-23 | Colombia | Netherlands | Great Britain | Australia |
| 2015 | August 6 – 15 | 3rd Junior World Championship | Castello de la Plana, Spain | 8 | Women's: U-19 | South Africa | New Zealand | France | Colombia |
| 2017 | July 15 – 23 | 4th Junior World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 10 | Men's: U-23 | Turkey | France | Colombia | New Zealand |
| 2017 | July 15 – 23 | 4th Junior World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 9 | Men's: U-19 | France | Great Britain | New Zealand | Australia |
| 2017 | July 15 – 23 | 4th Junior World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 8 | Women's: U-23 | New Zealand | Colombia | South Africa | Great Britain |
| 2017 | July 15 – 23 | 4th Junior World Championship | Hobart, Australia | 7 | Women's: U-19 | New Zealand | Australia | South Africa | Colombia |
| 2019 | August 14 – 24 | 5th Junior World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 11 | Men's: U-24 | Turkey | Great Britain | New Zealand | South Africa |
| 2019 | August 14 – 24 | 5th Junior World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 7 | Men's: U-19 | New Zealand | Great Britain | Spain | South Africa |
| 2019 | August 14 – 24 | 5th Junior World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 7 | Women's: U-24 | New Zealand | France | South Africa | Great Britain |
| 2019 | August 14 – 24 | 5th Junior World Championship | Sheffield, United Kingdom | 5 | Women's: U-19 | New Zealand | Colombia | France | Great Britain |
| 2021, moved to 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Men's: U-24 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2021, moved to 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Men's: U-19 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2021, moved to 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Women's: U-24 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2021, moved to 2022 | July 23 – 31 | World Cup (International Restart Event) | Ankara, Turkey | | Women's: U-19 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2024 | July 16 – 27 | 6th Junior World Championship | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | | Men's: U-24 | New Zealand | Australia | Great Britain | France |
| 2024 | July 16 – 27 | 6th Junior World Championship | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | | Men's: U-19 | New Zealand | France | Turkey | Australia |
| 2024 | July 16 – 27 | 6th Junior World Championship | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | | Women's: U-24 | New Zealand | France | Colombia | Turkey |
| 2024 | July 16 – 27 | 6th Junior World Championship | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | | Women's: U-19 | Australia | France | New Zealand | Colombia |

### Championships conducted by WAA

The 1st WAA World Championships is considered by some as being the legitimate 15th Championships.
| Year | Date | Championship | Location | Nations | Events | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place |
| 2008 | April 25 – May 3 | Alternative 15th World Championship and 1st Junior World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 10 | Men's: Elite | France | New Zealand | South Africa | Australia |
| 2008 | April 25 – May 3 | Alternative 15th World Championship and 1st Junior World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 10 | Men's: Masters | South Africa | Netherlands | France | Great Britain |
| 2008 | April 25 – May 3 | Alternative 15th World Championship and 1st Junior World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 10 | Men's: U-19 | Spain | New Zealand | South Africa | Colombia |
| 2008 | April 25 – May 3 | Alternative 15th World Championship and 1st Junior World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 10 | Women's: Elite | Australia | South Africa | Netherlands | New Zealand |
| 2008 | April 25 – May 3 | Alternative 15th World Championship and 1st Junior World Championship | Durban, South Africa | 10 | Women's: U-19 | New Zealand | Colombia | South Africa | Spain |

## Results by nation

| Key | Most successful in given category |
| Nation | Titles | Men's Elite | Women's Elite | Men's Masters | Women's Masters | Men's U-23/24 | Women's U-23/24 | Men's U-19 | Women's U-19 |
| Australia | 27 | 11: 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2011, 2016 | 9: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2023 | 4: 1992, 2000, 2013, 2016 | 2: 2013, 2016 | | | | 1: 2024 |
| New Zealand | 24 | 4: 2004, 2006, 2018, 2023 | 3: 1988, 2013, 2018 | | | 2: 2013, 2024 | 4: 2013, 2017, 2019, 2024 | 5: 2004, 2006, 2015, 2019, 2024 | 6: 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2019 |
| South Africa | 11 | | 4: 1992, 1996, 1998, 2016 | 3: 1996, 1998, 2008 | 3: 1998, 2000, 2002 | | | | 1: 2015 |
| France | 10 | 5: 1998, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 | 1: 2007 | 1: 2018 | 2: 2018, 2023 | | | 1: 2017 | |
| United States | 6 | | | 4: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2023 | 2: 2004, 2006 | | | | |
| Turkey | 3 | | | | | 3: 2015, 2017, 2019 | | | |
| Great Britain | 3 | | 2: 2009, 2011 | | | | | 1: 2002 | |
| Colombia | 2 | | | | | | 1: 2015 | 1: 2013 | |
| The Netherlands | 2 | 1: 1980 | 1: 2004 | | | | | | |
| Canada | 1 | 1: 1986 | | | | | | | |
| Spain | 1 | | | | | | | 1: 2008 | |