FINA Water Polo World League

Last updated

FINA Water Polo World League
Fina wpwl logo.jpg
Sport Water Polo
Founded2002
Ceased2022
Replaced by FINA Water Polo World Cup
FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup
Continentall (International)
Last
champion(s)
Men's: Flag of Italy.svg  Italy (1st title)
Women's: Flag of Spain.svg  Spain (1st title)
Most titlesMen's: Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia (10 titles)
Women's: Flag of the United States.svg  United States (14 titles)

The FINA Water Polo World League was an international water polo league organized by FINA (now World Aquatics), which played annually, typically from winter through to June. [1] League play featured continental tournaments for men and women, from which the top teams emerged to play in the championship tournament (the Super Final) where the league champion team is crowned.

Contents

Men's league play began in 2002, 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, based on growing interest in women's play. [2]

In October 2022, FINA announced that the tournament would be replaced with the FINA Water Polo World Cup and FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup from 2023 on. [3] [4]

Play format

Matches consisted of four eight-minute quarters, with a five-minute half-time break. Tie games were decided by an immediate penalty shootout. The game venues had 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 were organized by continent: Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The structure of continental play varied within the league. For example, for 2012, the Americas had a single tournament for each sex, Asia/Oceania has two tournaments for each sex on consecutive weekends, and Europe has six weekends of play for men and two for women. [5]

Men

Summary

FINA Men's Water Polo World League
Year [2] HostWinnerScoreRunner-up3rd place
2002 Patras, Greece Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
10–8Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
2003 New York, USA Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
13–8Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
2004 Long Beach, USA Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
12–8Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg
Serbia and Montenegro
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
2005 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg
Serbia and Montenegro
16–6Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
2006 Athens, Greece Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg
Serbia and Montenegro
6–4Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
2007 Berlin, Germany Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg
Serbia
9–6Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2008 Genoa, Italy Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg
Serbia
7–3Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2009 Podgorica, Montenegro Flag of Montenegro.svg
Montenegro
8–7Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg
Serbia
2010 Niš, Serbia Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg
Serbia
10–10 (4–2 PSO)Flag of Montenegro.svg
Montenegro
Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
2011 Florence, Italy Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
8–7Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
2012 Almaty, Kazakhstan Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
8–8 (10–9 PSO)Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
2013 Chelyabinsk, Russia Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
12–7Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of Montenegro.svg
Montenegro
2014 Dubai, UAE Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
10–6Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of Montenegro.svg
Montenegro
2015 Bergamo, Italy Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
9–6Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
Flag of Brazil.svg
Brazil
2016 Huizhou, China Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
10–6Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
2017 Ruza, Russia Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
10–9Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
2018 Budapest, Hungary Flag of Montenegro.svg
Montenegro
9–9 (4–2 PSO)Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
2019 Belgrade, Serbia Flag of Serbia.svg
Serbia
12–11Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2020 Tbilisi, Georgia Flag of Montenegro.svg
Montenegro
9–8Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
2022 Strasbourg, France Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
13–9Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain

Medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia [a] 100111
2Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 3126
3Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2518
4Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro [a] 2103
5Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 1337
6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1315
7Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1001
8Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0415
9Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 0325
10Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 0044
11Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 0033
12Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 0011
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0011
Totals (13 entries)20202060

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
  • Defunct team
Africa – CANA (6 teams)
Men's team [2] 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 YQ / YP
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria ×××××××××××××××××0/3
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt ××××××10th×××××××××××××1/1
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco ×××××××××××××××××0/3
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ×××××××8th8th××××××××××2/3
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia ××××××××××××××××××0/2
Americas – ASUA (7 teams)
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina ××××××××××××××××0/4
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil ××××8th8th7th3rd7th×××ו•6/12
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada ×××7th6th××7th6th××8th×8th6/12
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3rd6th5th5th2nd4th5th4th4th4th5th4th2nd4th7th×2nd2nd17/19
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Asia – AASF (5 teams)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China ×××8th9th×7th8th6th6th8th8th8th××9/14
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran ×××××××××××××××××0/3
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan ××××7th7th6th8th4th6th5th×7/15
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan ××××××××5th×6th8th7th6th×5/10
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Europe – LEN (20 teams)
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia ××4th2nd3rd3rd1st2nd3rd5th2nd9/18
Flag of France.svg  France ××××6th×××××××7th4th3/9
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia ××××××××××××××××8th×1/3
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany ×××3rd4th×××2/14
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4th5th3rd5th3rd8th3rd×3rd8/19
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 3rd1st1st2nd×2nd×××××2nd2nd6th×2nd5th10/13
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2nd4th7th5th2nd3rd7th4th2nd×4th1st11/19
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta ×××××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Part of SCG / FRY4th1st2nd5th×3rd3rd×1st1st6th9/13
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands ×6th×××××××××××××1/6
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia ×××××××××××××××××0/3
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania ×××6th×1/16
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1st××6th5th5thDQ4/17
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Part of SCG / FRY1st1st3rd1st1st×1st1st1st1st1st1st5th12/14
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro ×4th2nd1st1stDefunct4/4
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia ××××××××××××××××0/4
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2nd×5th2nd5th6th2nd××3rd4th3rd9/17
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey ××××××××××××××0/6
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine ××××××××××××××××××0/2
Oceania – OSA (2 teams)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia ×4th3rd3rd6th4th6th7th×4th5th5th7th6th3rd×7th14/17
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand ××××××××××××0/8
Total teams466668108888888888888

Performance by team

After 2015 World League

National teamTotal*Super Final
AppW%PldW**L**A%AppF4W%PldW**L**
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 30.53315870.000000.000000
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 10.0006060.000000.000000
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 120.64514191500.750950.418552332
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 100.2308720670.400410.25024618
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 90.2886619470.444400.29224717
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 100.36811442720.800800.13046640
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 120.64512178430.500660.706342410
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 10.4297341.000100.000404
Flag of France.svg  France 40.222368280.250100.000707
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 100.3337525500.200220.625853
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 10.0004040.000000.000000
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 140.46012658680.429630.34626917
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 80.8259780171.000870.694362511
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 30.083242220.000000.000000
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 140.59813279530.500740.559341915
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 100.3877529460.200200.2501239
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 50.2934112290.200100.333624
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 10.0006060.000000.000000
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 30.188163130.000000.000000
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 10.3333120.000000.000000
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 80.7678666200.750650.694362511
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 30.200153120.000000.000000
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 20.091111100.500100.000202
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 50.111364320.000000.000000
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 10.0003030.000000.000000
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 110.4137531440.091100.500633
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 120.4219540550.250310.5001477
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia***120.895143128151.00012120.93763594
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 20.083121110.000000.000000
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20.5002412121.000200.00012012
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 120.58112472520.500630.567301713
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 20.4449450.000000.000000
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 50.031321310.000000.000000
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 140.57213879590.8571270.485663234
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 10.0004040.000000.000000

Women

Winners

FINA Women's Water Polo World League
Year [2] HostWinnerRunner-up3rd Place
2004 Long Beach, USA Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
2005 Kirishi, Russia Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2006 Cosenza, Italy Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
2007 Montreal, Canada Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
2008 Santa Cruz, Spain Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2009 Kirishi, Russia Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2010 La Jolla, USA Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
2011 Tianjin, China Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2012 Changshu, China Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
2013 Beijing, China Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
2014 Kunshan, China Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2015 Shanghai, China Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
2016 Shanghai, China Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
2017 Shanghai, China Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
2018 Kunshan, China Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
2019 Budapest, Hungary Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
2020 Athens, Greece Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
2022 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Flag of the United States.svg
United States

Medal standings

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 141217
2Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1258
3Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1102
4Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1034
5Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1001
6Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 04610
7Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0415
8Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0303
9Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 0202
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0112
Totals (10 entries)18181854

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
Africa – CANA (1 team)
Women's team [2] 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 YQ / YP
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa ×××××××××××××××0/3
Americas – ASUA (5 teams)
Women's team [2] 200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920212022YQ / YP
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina ×××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil ××××××8th8th8th×××ו•4/7
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 5th6th6th4th4th2nd8th6th7th8th6th6th7th2nd4th7th4th7th18/18
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia ×××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba ×××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico ××××××××××××××××0/2
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1st5th1st1st2nd1st1st1st1st3rd1st1st1st1st1st1st1st3rd18/18
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela ×××××××××××××××××0/1
Asia – AASF (3 teams)
Women's team [2] 200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920212022YQ / YP
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China ××6th5th5th5th4th4th1st4th4th4th6th6th8th××13/14
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan ×××8th8th7th×3/14
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 8th×××××××××8th×2/8
Europe – LEN (10 teams)
Women's team [2] 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 YQ / YP
Flag of France.svg  France ××××××××0/10
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany ××6th×××××××1/9
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain ×××××××××××××0/5
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 6th1st3rd7th3rd7th3rd×6th9/16
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2nd4th×××6th4th4th6th2nd2nd8/15
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel ××××××××××××××××0/1
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 3rd8th2nd×8th2nd8th6th2nd7th5th×2nd5th12/16
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands ×7th5th××7th××3rd5th2nd4th4th8/13
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 4th2nd3rd1st6th4th5th5th2nd7th5th6th3rd3rd3rd3rdDQ16/17
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain ×5th6th4th8th5th5th2nd×5th5th1st10/16
Oceania – OSA (2 teams)
Women's team [2] 200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920212022YQ / YP
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 7th3rd4th2nd3rd3rd2nd3rd2nd7th3rd2nd3rd7th7th5th×6th17/17
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand ×××××××××8th1/9
Total teams886668888888888888

See also

References

  1. Water Polo World League page Archived 18 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine of the FINA website; retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 40, 78. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  3. "FINA Announces Dates for New 2023 Water Polo World Cup". fina.org. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. "New FINA competition: World Cup replaces World League". total-waterpolo.com. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  5. FINA Water Polo World League 2012 Edition – Programme, published 27 February 2012; retrieved 20123 March 2012.