FINA Water Polo World League explained

Pixels:	100px
Sport:	Water Polo
Founded:	2002
Folded:	2022
Replaced:	FINA Water Polo World Cup FINA Women's Water Polo World Cup
Continent:	all (International)
Champion:	Men's: (1st title)
Most Champs:	Men's: (10 titles)

The FINA Water Polo World League was an international water polo league organized by FINA, 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.

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	Host	width=20%	Winner	Score	width=20%	Runner-up	width=20%	3rd place
2002	Patras, Greece		10–8
2003	New York, USA		13–8
2004	Long Beach, USA		12–8
2005	Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro		16–6
2006	Athens, Greece		6–4
2007	Berlin, Germany		9–6
2008	Genoa, Italy		7–3
2009	Podgorica, Montenegro		8–7
2010	Niš, Serbia		10–10 ^{(4–2 PSO)}
2011	Florence, Italy		8–7
2012	Almaty, Kazakhstan		8–8 ^{(10–9 PSO)}
2013	Chelyabinsk, Russia		12–7
2014	Dubai, UAE		10–6
2015	Bergamo, Italy		9–6
2016	Huizhou, China		10–6
2017	Ruza, Russia		10–9
2018	Budapest, Hungary		9–9 ^{(4–2 PSO)}
2019	Belgrade, Serbia		12–11
2020	Tbilisi, Georgia		9–8
2022	Strasbourg, France		13–9

Medal table

matches played from Serbia and Montenegro are separated from Serbia.

Participation details

Legend

– Champions
– Runners-up
– Third place
– Fourth place
– Quarterfinals
— Did not enter qualifications
— Did not qualify for the final tournament
— Qualified but withdrew
– Hosts
^† – Defunct team

Men's team	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2021	2022	/
Africa – CANA (6 teams)
	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/3
	×	×	×	×	×	×	10th	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	1/1
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/3
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	8th	8th	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	2/3
	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/2
Americas – ASUA (7 teams)
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	•	•	×	•	0/4
	•	•	•	•	•	×	×	×	•	×	8th	8th	7th	3rd	7th	×	×	×	×	••	6/12
	×	×	×	•	•	7th	6th	×	×	7th	•	•	6th	•	×	×	•	8th	×	8th	6/12
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	0/1
	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
	•	3rd	6th	•	5th	5th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	5th	4th	4th	4th	5th	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	7th	×	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	17/19
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
Asia – AASF (5 teams)
	×	×	×	•	•	8th	9th	×	7th	8th	6th	6th	8th	8th	8th	•	•	•	×	×	9/14
	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/3
	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	7th	•	•	•	7th	•	•	6th	8th	4th	6th	5th	×	7/15
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	5th	×	•	•	•	6th	8th	7th	6th	×	5/10
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	0/1
Europe – LEN (20 teams)
	•	×	×	4th	•	•	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	3rd	3rd	bgcolor=gold	1st	•	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	•	3rd	5th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	•	•	9/18
	×	×	×	×	6th	×	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	•	7th	4th	3/9
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	×	×	8th	×	1/3
	×	×	×	3rd	•	4th	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	×	•	2/14
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
	4th	5th	3rd	5th	3rd	•	8th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	3rd	•	×	•	3rd	•	8/19
	3rd	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	×	bgcolor=silver	2nd	×	×	×	×	×	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	6th	•	×	2nd	5th	•	•	10/13
	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	•	•	•	7th	5th	•	2nd	3rd	•	•	7th	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	×	•	4th	bgcolor=gold	1st	11/19
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	0/1
	Part of /					•	4th	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	5th	×	3rd	3rd	•	•	×	bgcolor=gold	1st	•	bgcolor=gold	1st	6th	9/13
	×	6th	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	×	1/6
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/3
	×	×	×	•	•	6th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	×	•	1/16
	bgcolor=gold	1st	×	×	6th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	5th	•	•	•	5th	•	•	•	DQ	4/17
	Part of /					bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	×	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	•	1st	•	5th	12/14
^†	×	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	Defunct															4/4
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	×	•	×	×	×	•	0/4
	bgcolor=silver	2nd	×	5th	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	•	5th	•	6th	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	•	×	•	•	×	3rd	4th	•	3rd	9/17
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	0/6
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	×	0/2
Oceania – OSA (2 teams)
	×	•	•	•	4th	3rd	3rd	6th	4th	6th	7th	×	4th	5th	5th	7th	6th	3rd	×	7th	14/17
	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	×	•	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	×	0/8

Total teams	4	6	6	6	6	8	10	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8

Performance by team

After 2015 World League

National team	Total*					Super Final
National team
	3	0.533	15	8	7	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	1	0.000	6	0	6	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	12	0.645	141	91	50	0.750	9	5	0.418	55	23	32
	10	0.230	87	20	67	0.400	4	1	0.250	24	6	18
	9	0.288	66	19	47	0.444	4	0	0.292	24	7	17
	10	0.368	114	42	72	0.800	8	0	0.130	46	6	40
	12	0.645	121	78	43	0.500	6	6	0.706	34	24	10
	1	0.429	7	3	4	1.000	1	0	0.000	4	0	4
	4	0.222	36	8	28	0.250	1	0	0.000	7	0	7
	10	0.333	75	25	50	0.200	2	2	0.625	8	5	3
	1	0.000	4	0	4	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	14	0.460	126	58	68	0.429	6	3	0.346	26	9	17
	8	0.825	97	80	17	1.000	8	7	0.694	36	25	11
	3	0.083	24	2	22	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	14	0.598	132	79	53	0.500	7	4	0.559	34	19	15
	10	0.387	75	29	46	0.200	2	0	0.250	12	3	9
	5	0.293	41	12	29	0.200	1	0	0.333	6	2	4
	1	0.000	6	0	6	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	3	0.188	16	3	13	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	1	0.333	3	1	2	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	8	0.767	86	66	20	0.750	6	5	0.694	36	25	11
	3	0.200	15	3	12	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	2	0.091	11	1	10	0.500	1	0	0.000	2	0	2
	5	0.111	36	4	32	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	1	0.000	3	0	3	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	11	0.413	75	31	44	0.091	1	0	0.500	6	3	3
	12	0.421	95	40	55	0.250	3	1	0.500	14	7	7
	12	0.895	143	128	15	1.000	12	12	0.937	63	59	4
	2	0.083	12	1	11	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	2	0.500	24	12	12	1.000	2	0	0.000	12	0	12
	12	0.581	124	72	52	0.500	6	3	0.567	30	17	13
	2	0.444	9	4	5	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	5	0.031	32	1	31	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
	14	0.572	138	79	59	0.857	12	7	0.485	66	32	34
	1	0.000	4	0	4	0.000	0	0	0.000	0	0	0

*Since 2007 Preliminary Round is played among teams from the same regions (Asia/Oceania, Americas or Asia/Oceania/Americas, Africa and Europe); Super Final statistic included
**Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.
***Serbia's total includes appearances as .

Women

Winners

FINA Women's Water Polo World League
Year	Host	width=20%	Winner	width=20%	Runner-up	width=20%	3rd Place
2004	Long Beach, USA
2005	Kirishi, Russia
2006	Cosenza, Italy
2007	Montreal, Canada
2008	Santa Cruz, Spain
2009	Kirishi, Russia
2010	La Jolla, USA
2011	Tianjin, China
2012	Changshu, China
2013	Beijing, China
2014	Kunshan, China
2015	Shanghai, China
2016	Shanghai, China
2017	Shanghai, China
2018	Kunshan, China
2019	Budapest, Hungary
2020	Athens, Greece
2022	Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Participation details

Legend

– Champions
– Runners-up
– Third place
– Fourth place
– Quarterfinals
— Did not enter qualifications
— Did not qualify for the final tournament
— Qualified but withdrew
– Hosts

Women's team	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2021	2022	/
Africa – CANA (1 team)
	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	0/3
Americas – ASUA (5 teams)
Women's team	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2021	2022	/
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	0/1
	×	•	•	×	×	×	•	×	•	×	8th	8th	8th	×	×	×	×	••	4/7
	5th	6th	6th	4th	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	8th	6th	7th	8th	6th	6th	7th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	7th	4th	7th	18/18
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	0/1
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	0/1
	×	×	×	•	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/2
	1st	5th	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=gold	1st	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	bgcolor=gold	1st	3rd	18/18
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/1
Asia – AASF (3 teams)
Women's team	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2021	2022	/
	×	×	•	6th	5th	5th	5th	4th	4th	1st	4th	4th	4th	6th	6th	8th	×	×	13/14
	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8th	8th	•	7th	×	3/14
	8th	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	×	×	•	•	×	•	•	•	8th	×	2/8
Europe – LEN (10 teams)
Women's team	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2021	2022	/
	×	•	•	×	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	0/10
	×	•	•	•	×	•	•	•	6th	×	×	•	•	×	×	×	×	×	1/9
	×	×	×	×	×	•	•	•	•	×	•	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	0/5
	6th	bgcolor=gold	1st	•	3rd	•	7th	3rd	7th	3rd	•	•	•	•	•	×	•	6th	•	9/16
	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	×	•	×	×	6th	•	•	4th	•	•	•	4th	•	6th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	8/15
	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	×	•	×	•	0/1
	3rd	8th	2nd	×	•	8th	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	8th	6th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	7th	5th	•	×	bgcolor=silver	2nd	•	5th	12/16
	×	7th	5th	•	×	×	7th	×	•	•	×	3rd	•	5th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	4th	•	4th	8/13
	4th	2nd	3rd	•	bgcolor=gold	1st	6th	4th	5th	5th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	7th	5th	6th	3rd	3rd	3rd	3rd	DQ	16/17
	×	•	•	5th	6th	4th	•	8th	•	5th	5th	•	bgcolor=silver	2nd	×	5th	•	5th	bgcolor=gold	1st	10/16
Oceania – OSA (2 teams)
Women's team	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2021	2022	/
	7th	3rd	4th	bgcolor=silver	2nd	3rd	3rd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	3rd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	7th	3rd	bgcolor=silver	2nd	3rd	7th	7th	5th	×	6th	17/17
	×	×	•	•	×	•	×	•	×	•	×	•	×	×	•	•	×	8th	1/9

Total teams	8	8	6	6	6	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8

External links

FINA water polo official site
Water Polo page of FINA's old website (2010 and earlier).

Notes and References

http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=49&Itemid=315 Water Polo World League page
wl . dmy .
Web site: FINA Announces Dates for New 2023 Water Polo World Cup. fina.org. 7 October 2022.
Web site: New FINA competition: World Cup replaces World League. total-waterpolo.com. 7 October 2022.
http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2472&Itemid=1172 FINA Water Polo World League 2012 Edition – Programme

FINA Water Polo World League explained

Play format

Men

Summary

Medal table

Participation details

Performance by team

Women

Winners

Participation details

See also

External links

Notes and References