# 2018 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup

The 16th edition of the Men's FINA Water Polo World Cup were held in Berlin, Germany from September 11 to September 16, 2018. Like the final tournament of the 2007 FINA Men's Water Polo World League all matches were contested in the Europasportpark swimming pool.

## Format

8 teams qualified for the 2018 FINA World Cup. They were split into two groups of 4 teams. After playing a Round-robin every team advanced to the quarterfinals. The best ranked team of Group A played against the fourth ranked team of Group B, the second ranked team of Group A against the third ranked team of Group B the third ranked team of Group A against the second ranked team of Group B and the fourth ranked team of Group A against the best ranked team of Group B. The winners of those quarterfinals advanced to the Semis and played out the champion while the losers of the quarterfinals competed in placement matches.

## Teams

The top eight teams from the previous world championship are no longer qualified. Now only the top three teams from the previous world championship qualify, with one guest per continent (the highest-ranked team from the previous world championship).
| Teams | Qualified as |
| Germany Croatia Hungary Serbia (European Host) United States Australia Japan South Africa | Host 1st 2017 World Championship 2nd 2017 World Championship 3rd 2017 World Championship 1st European team at 2017 World Championship 1st American team at 2017 World Championship 1st Oceanian team at 2017 World Championship 1st Asian team at 2017 World Championship 1st African team at 2017 World Championship |

## Groups

| Group A | Group B |
| Hungary Germany (H) Australia Japan | Croatia Serbia United States South Africa |

## Preliminary round

All times are local (UTC+2).

### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Germany (H) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 4 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Hungary | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 34 | +4 | 4 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 4 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Japan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 47 | −18 | 0 | Quarterfinals |
| 11 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Australia | 14–6 | Japan | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |||
| 11 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Younger 4 | Goals | Arai 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |
| 11 September 2018 20:30 | Report | Germany | 12–10 | Hungary | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |||
| 11 September 2018 20:30 | Report | Real, Reibel 3 | Goals | Bátori 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |
| 12 September 2018 16:00 | Report | Australia | 8–9 | Hungary | Berlin, Germany Referees: Viktor Salnichenko (KAZ), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Viktor Salnichenko (KAZ), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |||
| 12 September 2018 16:00 | Report | three players 2 | Goals | Manhercz 4 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Viktor Salnichenko (KAZ), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |
| 12 September 2018 20:30 | Report | Germany | 14–9 | Japan | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Dion Willis (RSA) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Dion Willis (RSA) |||
| 12 September 2018 20:30 | Report | Eidner 4 | Goals | Arai 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Dion Willis (RSA) |
| 13 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Hungary | 19–14 | Japan | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |||
| 13 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Zalánki 5 | Goals | Adachi, Inaba 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |
| 13 September 2018 20:30 | Report | Germany | 9–10 | Australia | Berlin, Germany Referees: Vojin Putniković (SRB), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Vojin Putniković (SRB), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |||
| 13 September 2018 20:30 | Report | three players 2 | Goals | Kayes 5 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Vojin Putniković (SRB), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Serbia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 21 | +24 | 5 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Croatia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 22 | +28 | 5 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | United States | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 35 | −2 | 2 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | South Africa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 61 | −50 | 0 | Quarterfinals |
| 11 September 2018 15:45 | Report | Serbia | 21–3 | South Africa | Berlin, Germany Referees: Victor Salnichenko (KAZ), Axel Bender (GER) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Victor Salnichenko (KAZ), Axel Bender (GER) |||
| 11 September 2018 15:45 | Report | Subotić 6 | Goals | Spencer 2 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Victor Salnichenko (KAZ), Axel Bender (GER) |
| 11 September 2018 17:15 | Report | Croatia | 15–10 | United States | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), György Kun (HUN) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), György Kun (HUN) |||
| 11 September 2018 17:15 | Report | Vukičević 4 | Goals | Bowen 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), György Kun (HUN) |
| 12 September 2018 17:30 | Report | Serbia | 14–8 | United States | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |||
| 12 September 2018 17:30 | Report | Mandić 5 | Goals | three players 2 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |
| 12 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Croatia | 25–2 | South Africa | Berlin, Germany Referees: Tadao Tahara (JPN), Axel Bender (GER) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Tadao Tahara (JPN), Axel Bender (GER) |||
| 12 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Bašić 9 | Goals | Prout, Rodda 1 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Tadao Tahara (JPN), Axel Bender (GER) |
| 13 September 2018 16:00 | Report | Serbia | 10–10 | Croatia | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Axel Bender (GER) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Axel Bender (GER) |||
| 13 September 2018 16:00 | Report | Stojanović 4 | Goals | Vukičević 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Axel Bender (GER) |
| 13 September 2018 17:30 | Report | South Africa | 6–15 | United States | Berlin, Germany Referees: György Kun (HUN), Tadao Tahara (JPN) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: György Kun (HUN), Tadao Tahara (JPN) |||
| 13 September 2018 17:30 | Report | Evezard 2 | Goals | Irwing 4 | Berlin, Germany Referees: György Kun (HUN), Tadao Tahara (JPN) |

## Knockout stage
### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final |
| 14 September | 14 September | | | |
| Hungary | 10 | | | |
| Hungary | 10 | 15 September | 15 September | | |
| United States | 8 | 15 September | 15 September | |
| United States | 8 | Hungary | 12 | |
| 14 September | 14 September | | Hungary | 12 | |
| 14 September | 14 September | Serbia | 11 | |
| Japan | 7 | Serbia | 11 | |
| Japan | 7 | | | | 16 September | 16 September |
| Serbia | 12 | | | | 16 September | 16 September |
| Serbia | 12 | | | | Hungary | 10 |
| 14 September | 14 September | | | | | Hungary | 10 |
| 14 September | 14 September | | | | Australia | 4 |
| Australia | 9 | | | | Australia | 4 |
| Australia | 9 | 15 September | 15 September | | | |
| Croatia | 8 | 15 September | 15 September | | | |
| Croatia | 8 | Australia (PSO) | 11 | | | |
| 14 September | 14 September | | Australia (PSO) | 11 | | | |
| 14 September | 14 September | Germany | 10 | | Third place | Third place |
| Germany | 24 | Germany | 10 | | Third place | Third place |
| Germany | 24 | | | | 16 September | 16 September |
| South Africa | 5 | | | | 16 September | 16 September |
| South Africa | 5 | | | | Serbia | 15 |
| | | | | | Germany | 9 |

### 5–8th place

| 5–8th place semifinals | 5–8th place semifinals | Fifth place | Fifth place |
| 15 September | 15 September |
| United States | 11 |
| United States | 11 | 16 September | 16 September |
| Japan | 10 | 16 September | 16 September |
| Japan | 10 | United States | 7 |
| 15 September | 15 September | | United States | 7 |
| 15 September | 15 September | Croatia | 10 |
| Croatia | 16 | Croatia | 10 |
| South Africa | 3 | | |
| South Africa | 3 | Seventh place | Seventh place |
| | | 16 September | 16 September |
| | | Japan | 21 |
| | | South Africa | 9 |

### Quarterfinals

| 14 September 2018 16:00 | Report | Hungary | 10–8 | United States | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |||
| 14 September 2018 16:00 | Report | Bátori 3 | Goals | three players 2 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |
| 14 September 2018 17:30 | Report | Australia | 9–8 | Croatia | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |||
| 14 September 2018 17:30 | Report | Kayes 3 | Goals | Vrlić 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |
| 14 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Japan | 7–12 | Serbia | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Dion Willis (RSA) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Dion Willis (RSA) |||
| 14 September 2018 19:00 | Report | Okawa 4 | Goals | Mandić 4 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Dion Willis (RSA) |
| 14 September 2018 20:30 | Report | Germany | 24–5 | South Africa | Berlin, Germany Referees: Victor Salnichenko (KAZ), György Kun (HUN) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Victor Salnichenko (KAZ), György Kun (HUN) |||
| 14 September 2018 20:30 | Report | Jüngling 5 | Goals | Evezard 2 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Victor Salnichenko (KAZ), György Kun (HUN) |

### 5–8th place semifinals

| 15 September 2018 14:00 | Report | United States | 11–10 | Japan | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |||
| 15 September 2018 14:00 | Report | Bowen 5 | Goals | Adachi 4 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Daniel Flahive (AUS) |
| 15 September 2018 15:30 | Report | Croatia | 16–3 | South Africa | Berlin, Germany Referees: Axel Bender (GER), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Axel Bender (GER), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |||
| 15 September 2018 15:30 | Report | Bašić 4 | Goals | Spencer 2 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Axel Bender (GER), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |

### Semifinals

| 15 September 2018 17:00 | Report | Hungary | 12–11 | Serbia | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |||
| 15 September 2018 17:00 | Report | Bátori 3 | Goals | Subotić 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Dragan Štampalija (CRO) |
| 15 September 2018 18:30 | Report | Australia | 11–10 | Germany | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Dion Willis (RSA) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Dion Willis (RSA) |||
| 15 September 2018 18:30 | Report | Younger 3 | Goals | Jüngling 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Dion Willis (RSA) |

### Seventh place game

| 16 September 2018 10:00 | Report | Japan | 21–9 | South Africa | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Axel Bender (GER) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Axel Bender (GER) |||
| 16 September 2018 10:00 | Report | Inaba 5 | Goals | Rabie 4 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Francesc Buch (ESP), Axel Bender (GER) |

### Fifth place game

| 16 September 2018 11:30 | Report | United States | 7–10 | Croatia | Berlin, Germany Referees: Vojin Putniković (SRB), György Kun (HUN) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Vojin Putniković (SRB), György Kun (HUN) |||
| 16 September 2018 11:30 | Report | three players 2 | Goals | Fatović 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Vojin Putniković (SRB), György Kun (HUN) |

### Bronze medal game

| 16 September 2018 13:00 | Report | Serbia | 15–9 | Germany | Berlin, Germany Referees: Dion Willis (RSA), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Dion Willis (RSA), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |||
| 16 September 2018 13:00 | Report | Vico 4 | Goals | Real 3 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Dion Willis (RSA), Michael Goldenberg (USA) |

### Gold medal game

| 16 September 2018 14:30 | Report | Hungary | 10–4 | Australia | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Georgios Stavridis (GRE) |
| Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Georgios Stavridis (GRE) |||
| 16 September 2018 14:30 | Report | Manhercz 4 | Goals | four players 1 | Berlin, Germany Referees: Boris Margeta (SLO), Georgios Stavridis (GRE) |

## Final standings

| Rank | Team |
| | Hungary |
| | Australia |
| | Serbia |
| 4 | Germany |
| 5 | Croatia |
| 6 | United States |
| 7 | Japan |
| 8 | South Africa |
* 2018 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup
* Hungary Fourth title

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Name | Goals | Shots | % |
| 1 | Gavril Subotić | 17 | 27 | 63.0% |
| 2 | Andrija Bašić | 16 | 19 | 84.2% |
| 3 | Dušan Mandić | 15 | 32 | 46.9% |
| 3 | Keigo Okawa | 15 | 44 | 34.1% |
| 5 | Julian Real | 14 | 28 | 50.0% |
| 5 | Bence Bátori | 14 | 29 | 48.3% |
| 5 | Gergő Zalánki | 14 | 37 | 37.8% |
| 8 | Joe Kayes | 13 | 25 | 52.0% |
| 8 | Seiya Adachi | 13 | 34 | 38.2% |
Source: FINA - Leading Scorers

## Individual awards

* Best Player
** Aaron Younger (AUS)
* Best Goalscorer
** Gavril Subotić (SRB)
* Best Goalkeeper
** Joel Dennerley (AUS)

## Squads
### Australia

* Joel Dennerley
* Richard Campbell
* George Ford
* Joe Kayes
* Nathan Power
* Lachlan Edwards
* Lachlan Hollis
* Aaron Younger
* Andrew Ford
* Timothy Putt
* Rhys Howden
* Blake Edwards
* Anthony Hrysanthos
Head coach:
* Elvis Fatović

### Germany

* Moritz Schenkel
* Ben Reibel
* Timo van der Bosch
* Julian Real
* Tobias Preuss
* Maurice Jüngling
* Denis Strelezkij
* Hannes Schuls
* Marko Stamm
* Mateo Ćuk
* Marin Restović
* Dennis Eidner
* Kevin Götz
Head coach:
* Hagen Stamm

### Hungary

* Gergely Kardos
* Szilárd Jansik
* Krisztián Manhercz
* Gergő Zalánki
* Toni Német
* Tamás Mezei
* Dávid Jansik
* Gergő Kovács
* Ádám Nagy
* Bence Bátori
* Mátyás Pásztor
* Zoltán Pohl
* Soma Vogel
Head coach:
* Tamás Märcz

### Japan

* Katsuyuki Tanamura
* Seiya Adachi
* Harukiirario Koppu
* Toi Suzuki
* Takuma Yoshida
* Atsuto Ilda
* Mitsuru Takata
* Atsushi Arai
* Kohei Inaba
* Keigo Okawa
* Kenta Araki
* Tomoyoshi Fukushima
Head coach:
* Yoji Omoto

### Croatia

* Marko Bijač
* Marko Macan
* Loren Fatović
* Luka Lončar
* Andrija Bašić
* Hrvoje Benić
* Ante Vukičević
* Andro Bušlje
* Lovre Miloš
* Josip Vrlić
* Anđelo Šetka
* Xavier García
* Ivan Marcelić
Head coach:
* Ivica Tucak

### Serbia

* Strajo Dimitrije Rističević
* Dušan Mandić
* Viktor Rašović
* Sava Ranđelović
* Gavril Subotić
* Đorđe Lazić
* Nemanja Vico
* Radomir Drašović
* Nikola Jakšić
* Mateja Asanović
* Ognjen Stojanović
* Strahinja Rašović
* Lazar Dobožanov
Head coach:
* Dejan Savić

### South Africa

* Lwazi Madi
* Miguel Morais
* Chris Brown
* Ethan James Jagger Coryndon-Baker
* Garreth Prout
* Nic Downes
* Lood Rabie
* Nicholas Rodda
* Cameron Laurenson
* Mark Spencer
* Jason Evezard
* Donn Stewart
Head coach:
* Paul Martin

### United States

* McQuin Baron
* Johnathan Masashi Hooper
* Dylan Woodhead
* Alex Obert
* Ben Hallock
* Luca Cupido
* Nick Carniglia
* Alex Roelse
* Alex Bowen
* Benjamin Dutch Stevenson
* Jesse Smith
* Maxwell Bruce Irving
* Jack William Turner
Head coach:
* Dejan Udovičić