Croatia’s hopes of back-to-back world titles came to an end in Singapore after a hard-fought quarter final clash against Hungary at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
The reigning champions entered the tournament with high hopes, having secured their third world title in Doha earlier this year.
Croatia topped their group and advanced confidently to the quarter-finals, before falling short to Hungary in a closely contested match (12-18).
This loss ended Croatia’s title defence early, denying them a chance to secure a historic fourth world championship win.
A Hard-Fought Campaign
Led by head coach Ivica Tucak, the team had shown great form throughout the early stages of the tournament.
Jerko Marinić Kragić, Luka Bukić and current captain Marko Bijač stood out, but the quarter-final proved to be one challenge too many against the Hungarian squad.
“We are disappointed; we didn’t show up today. Hungary was much better, that is it. We need to internalise and see why that happened.” Marko Bijac
Hungary, former world champions and Olympic gold medallists, capitalised on Croatia’s missed chances as their strong defence helped them to secure their spot in the semi-finals.
Ultimately Croatia placed 5th, following a convincing 19–13 win over Montenegro in the classification match. Hungary advanced to the final but lost to Spain, who claimed the 2025 World Championship title.
Looking Ahead…
After the disappointing result in Singapore, the “Barakude” now focus on the 2026 European Water Polo Championships, where they will have a chance to redeem themselves.
Belgrade, Serbia, will host the men’s championship at the Štark Arena from 10–25 January 2026.
This tournament will feature 16 of Europe’s top teams. Croatia will aim to reclaim their place at the top following their silver medal finish at the 2024 European Championships in Split.
The new format of the tournament includes an extended group phase, more competitive matchups and high-intensity games.
Croatia’s “Barakudice”…
Croatia’s women’s national water polo team made an impressive debut at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, their first appearance at a world-level tournament.
Under coach Aljoša Kunac and captain Dina Lordan, the “Barakudice” fought hard.
After a 16–6 win over South Africa, Croatia secured 13th place, a solid foundation for future growth.
Their performance has set a promising stage for their development on the international scene.
