Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Division II women’s water polo tournament features 15 teams competing over six days, with seven matches scheduled daily until the event concludes on 26 April. Teams are ranked using the Tournament Performance Index, which considers match results, goal difference, and strength of opponents. The top two teams from this league phase will advance to the knockout stage and qualify for the World Cup Finals in Sydney, Australia, in July.
Russia returns to compete under its national flag after previous restrictions, where its men participated as National Athletes B in Malta. Israel has withdrawn from the event. The Division II winner will also earn promotion to Division I at the 2027 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup.
Teams were drawn into two pots: Pot 1 includes Argentina, Brazil, China, Canada, Great Britain, Croatia, Singapore, and South Africa. Pot 2 consists of Germany, Kazakhstan, Malta, Russia, Portugal, Turkiye, and Slovakia. Germany is a new entrant in this context.
Canada, China, and Russia have previously medaled at the World Cup, with Canada capturing the title in 1981. Newcomers to this tier—Argentina, Malta, and Slovakia—highlight the growing global reach of women’s water polo. Returning teams such as Croatia, Great Britain, Portugal, and Turkiye competed in the December 2024 Division II event in Istanbul.
The opening day features a 10:00 match between China and Turkiye, setting the stage for a competitive tournament start.