Croatia named host of 2024 European Water Polo Championship

Croatia named host of 2024 European Water Polo Championship (Photo: HVS)

It is now official – Croatia will host the senior Men’s European Water Polo Championship from January 4 to 16, 2024. 

After obtaining the approval of the Government of Croatia for organising such a significant competition and the expressed interest of the cities of Zagreb and Dubrovnik, Croatia’s candidacy was accepted and chosen as the best at the headquarters of the European Aquatics.

Perica Bukić, the Executive Vice President of the Croatian Water Polo Federation, said:

“After the spectacle in Split and winning gold at that European Championship, we have the opportunity to once again organise the largest continental competition. The hosts will be Dubrovnik and Zagreb, the trophy centres of our most successful sport. On this occasion, I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Croatia, led by President Andrej Plenković, who, as in 2022 when we had the competition in Split, has supported our project and candidacy. I also want to thank Josip Varvodić, the first Vice President of the European Aquatics, who has significantly contributed to Croatia regaining this honour and defending the title of the best in Europe in Dubrovnik and Zagreb. This competition is also a qualification for the World Championship in Doha in February 2024, but the European Championship in Zagreb and Dubrovnik also offers a spot for the Olympic Games in Paris. We know what is expected of us, and we will do our best to repeat the organisational and results success of our previous European Championships in Zagreb 2010 and Split 2022.”

Group stage matches will be played in both cities, Zagreb and Dubrovnik, while in the second part of the competition, matches for the ranking from 1st to 8th place will be played in Zagreb, at the pool by the Sava River, and matches for the ranking from 9th to 16th place in the Gruž pool in Dubrovnik.

The Croatian national team will play group stage matches in Dubrovnik as follows:

•January 4, 2024: Croatia vs. Spain, 1st round

•January 6, 2024: Croatia vs. France, 2nd round

•January 8, 2024: Croatia vs. Montenegro, 3rd round

“With great pleasure, I can announce that Croatia has secured the organization of a major competition like the European Championship in our country,” stated the head coach of the Croatian national team, Ivica Tucak, adding.

“Due to the war situation in Israel, the Croatian Water Polo Federation, with significant assistance from the Government of the Republic of Croatia, managed to secure the hosting of this extremely important competition. I believe we will have the strength to repeat the spectacle that took place in Split just over a year ago. From a sports perspective, we will do everything to achieve top results, and with the support of the fans in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, I believe we will succeed.“