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After winning the 2025 World Aquatics World Cup title in Podgorica, Montenegro, the men’s water polo team from Spain celebrates with the trophy. Spain’s national men’s water polo team defeated Greece in an exciting final, in Podgorica to win the World Aquatics Men’s Water Polo World Cup. Spain won the title match after a fierce battle, defeating Greece 16–14. Greece took home the silver medal, its first World Cup podium result in 28 years, while Spain won the tournament for the second time in a row after winning the previous one in 2023. Both teams displayed excellent play in the final, which kept spectators on edge right up to the very end.
The Last Battle in Podgorica
Spain and Greece’s gold-medal match was a thrilling competition with fluctuating momentum. Greece emerged victorious, winning 4–2 in the first quarter. However, Spain’s attack really took off in the second session, scoring six goals in Q2 to tie the score at 8–8 at the interval. Additionally, Spain won the third quarter 4–2, leading 12–10 going into the last quarter. Spain’s lead was reduced to 12–11 early in the fourth by a goal from Greek sensation Stylianos Argyropoulos, who scored a game-high five goals. However, Spain came back with a resounding comeback: goals from Unai Sanahuja and Fran Valera placed Spain ahead 14–11, and the lead quickly grew to 15–12. In a thrilling moment, Spain took a 16–12 lead late in the game as Spanish goalie Unai Aguirre made a vital save and subsequently scored a long-range goal into an unguarded net. Greece put up a valiant fight, scoring two goals in the closing seconds, but Spain’s defense held firm and won 16–14. Greece proudly collected a well-earned silver after pushing the champions to the limit, while Spain’s La Furia Roja celebrated when the final whistle blew.
Spain’s Performance at the Championship
The triumph in Podgorica demonstrated Spain’s depth, expertise, and clutch play under duress. In the final, the Spanish team’s balanced offensive effort resulted in nine different players scoring goals. Sharpshooter Álvaro Granados, team captain Alberto Munárriz, and others all scored goals, with Granados scoring four in the championship match. (Granados later received recognition as the World Cup Final Eight MVP.) In crucial defensive situations, Spain excelled, especially goalie Unai Aguirre, who made 14 saves and scored a goal in the last minutes when Greece left their goal unattended. The defending champions displayed tenacity and tactical ability to win the match after a rare early-tournament struggle in which Spain fell behind by two goals in the first quarter, their first deficit of the competition. With this victory, Spain retained the gold trophy it had won in Los Angeles in 2023 and secured back-to-back World Cup victories. The victory adds another gold medal to Spain’s World Cup record, which already includes many bronzes, solidifying the country’s position as a dominant force in men’s water polo.
Greece, on the other hand, performed admirably even if they were unable to win. The Greeks showed why they were finalists by playing Spain goal-for-goal for the whole of the game. The Greek offensive was led by Argyropoulos and Ioannis Genidounias, who combined for eight goals, and Spain was under pressure after the team’s early 4–2 lead.
Final Tournament Results & Qualifying for the World Championship
After three days of elite competition in Podgorica (April 11–13, 2025), the full tournament standings for the Men’s World Cup Final Eight are as follows:
- Spain (World Cup Champions)
- Greece
- Hungary (lost to Croatia in a penalty shootout in the third-place game)
- Croatia
- Montenegro – 5th place (host country, defeated Netherlands 15–14 in 5th place match)
- Netherlands
- Germany (beat Japan 16–11 in 7th-place game)
- Japan
Importantly, the top finishers in this World Cup earned more than just medals – they also secured berths to the upcoming World Championships. According to World Aquatics rules, the top three teams from the 2025 World Cup Final in Podgorica each obtain a quota spot for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Therefore, Spain (1st), Greece (2nd), and Hungary (3rd) have now qualified for the men’s water polo tournament at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. These teams will join other qualified nations (including host Singapore, Olympic medalists, and continental qualifiers) in vying for the world title later in the year.
