Twenty teams from five continents will compete in Puerto de la Cruz from 16 to 23 August, with Spain looking to defend the world title it won in 2024
Tenerife is about to become the centre of the water polo world.
The U18 Women’s Water Polo World Championship Tenerife 2026 gets underway this Sunday, 16 August, bringing 20 national teams from five continents to the Centro de Deportes Acuáticos de Tenerife in Puerto de la Cruz.
The tournament runs until 23 August, with the final scheduled for 19:30 on the closing day.
And yes, there will be a rather nice backdrop. The venue sits with Mount Teide behind it, which is not a bad setting for a world championship.
Twenty teams chasing the title
The competition features 20 teams split across six groups.
The strongest eight teams are in Groups A and B and will play a traditional round-robin format.
Group A: Netherlands, Hungary, Greece and Italy
Group B: Croatia, China, Spain and the United States
The remaining teams are divided between Groups C to F, with three teams in each group.
Group C: New Zealand, Colombia and Turkey
Group D: Malta, Canada and Germany
Group E: South Africa, Israel and Zimbabwe
Group F: Australia, Serbia and Brazil
The opening match is between Turkey and New Zealand at 09:00 on Sunday.
Spain arrives as defending champion
There is plenty of interest from the home crowd, with Spain going into the tournament as reigning world champions.
The Spanish U18 women’s team won the title in China in 2024 and will be looking to do it again on home territory.
Spain has won the competition twice, taking gold in 2018 and 2024, while also claiming silver in 2016.
The team is coached by Carla Fargas and includes players from clubs including CN Catalunya, UE Horta, CN Terrassa, Real Canoe, Mediterrani, CN Molins de Rei, CN Sabadell and CN Sant Andreu.
Spain’s opening matches
Spain begins its campaign on Sunday 16 August at 19:30, against Croatia.
The following day, Monday 17 August, brings a meeting with the United States, again at 19:30.
Spain then completes the group stage on Tuesday 18 August, facing China at the same time.
All times are local Canary Islands time, one hour behind mainland Spain.
Another major sporting event for Tenerife
The championship has the backing of the Cabildo de Tenerife and Turismo de Tenerife, alongside the Government of the Canary Islands and Puerto de la Cruz Town Hall.
It is another opportunity for the island to host an international sporting event while putting the facilities at the Centro de Deportes Acuáticos to good use.
And for anyone heading along to watch, there is the added bonus of being able to combine a bit of top-level water polo with a few days in Puerto de la Cruz.
Not a bad way to spend a week in Tenerife.
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