World Aquatics Announces Water Polo 4×4 Format Launch in Croatia

World Aquatics has announced that it will debut the inaugural World Aquatics Water Polo 4×4 Open Championships in September in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Taking place from August 31—September 6, 2026, the event will introduce a new four-on-four format, designed to complement traditional water polo and expand the sport’s reach.

WP4 features four players per team, a smaller field of play, and a shorter shot clock, creating a fast-paced and engaging style of play. The format is said to be adaptable to both open water and urban areas, aiming to attract new audiences and broaden the sport’s appeal.

As a distinct discipline under World Aquatics, WP4 wants to create new opportunities for athletes, federations and event organizers in a bid to support the long-term global strategic growth of water polo.

Dubrovnik, an historic city situated along the Adriatic Sea, has hosted open-water water polo for more than a century, including the Wild League, an annual amateur competition that concludes with a final in the Old Town harbour.

Inaugural Open Championship Structure

The inaugural event is being organized as an Open Championship, with World Aquatics and the Croatian organizers inviting all Member Federations and Masters Club teams to participate across multiple categories.

It will feature an Elite National Team division, composed of national teams nominated by their respective National Federations, as well as a Masters division, open to club and Masters teams applying independently.

Additional details on registration, qualification, and competition procedures are expected to be released later this month.