NZ Men's U18 National Water Polo team ready for World Championships in Portugal

The New Zealand Men's U18 National Water Polo team is gearing up for the 2026 World Aquatics Men's U18 Water Polo Championships, set to take place from 27th of June to 4th of July 2026 in Rio Maior, Portugal. This prestigious tournament will feature 20 teams from across the globe!

Building momentum in Spain

In preparation for the championships, the team has been based in Spain with the Barcelona International Water Polo Academy for a key training and development block. This high-performance environment has played a crucial role in strengthening team chemistry, fostering cohesion, and sharpening their competitive edge ahead of the world stage.

Joshua Potaka, Head Coach, spoke about the importance of the Spain training camp:

“The group has been working incredibly hard throughout this campaign. The athletes have committed themselves to improving every day, and we're seeing the benefits of that effort both in and out of the pool.”

Looking ahead to the World Championships, Potaka added:

“We know the World Championships will be a huge challenge. We'll be competing against some of the best teams in the world, and there will be difficult moments along the way. However, we're excited about the opportunity to test ourselves on the international stage and see how far we've come as a team. 

“We're proud of the way this group represents New Zealand, and we're looking forward to giving everything we have in Portugal.”

Group stage fixtures

New Zealand has been drawn into Group C alongside Colombia, and Singapore:

• Saturday, 27 June – 8:00 PM NZST – Colombia vs New Zealand

• Sunday, 28 June – 11:00 PM NZST – Singapore vs New Zealand

(Remaining fixtures to be confirmed)

Teams ranked 1st in Groups C-F enter crossover matches against lower-ranked teams from Groups A and B. 

Teams ranked 2nd and 3rd in Groups C-F are placed into two mixed groups groups (Group G and Group H) for additional round-robin play, determining ranks 13-20. 

Watch live

Each match of the 2026 World Aquatics Men's U18 Water Polo Championships will be streamed LIVE and FREE on the World Aquatics YouTube Channel - make sure to tune in and support our New Zealand national team!

Stay connected

For updates throughout the tournament — including results and highlights — stay in the loop via the links below:

• Instagram: @waterpolonz

• Facebook: Water Polo New Zealand

• Website: www.nzwaterpolo.org.nz

• World Aquatics: https://www.worldaquatics.com/competitions/5137/world-aquatics-men-s-u18-water-polo-championships-2026

Get behind the team and stay informed as they represent Aotearoa on the global stage.

New Zealand Men's U18 National Water Polo team:

Team list: 

• Blaise VAN HEERDEN (Sea Wolf)
• George MCGUINNESS (Sea Wolf)
• Henry MOORE (Sea Wolf)
• Hugo DOUGALL (Marist)
• Jacob KEIGHTLEY (Waikato)
• Lachlan SCHNAUER (Marist)
• Max NORWELL (Sea Wolf)
• Max MAYALL (Waikato)
• Nikolas SELBY (Manawatu/Sydney University)
• Rielly ERIKSON (Marist)
• Riley SWINDELLS (Marist)
• Sabastian DUNN (Marist)
• Thomas MCLEAN (Sea Wolf)
• Zach GLEESON (Sea Wolf)

Non-travelling reserves: Aidan WATERS (Waikato), Louis MCFARLANE (North Harbour), Mac CARVER (Canterbury), Rupert GLAETZER (Sea Wolf), Thomas FEARON (North Harbour)

Support staff: Joshua Potaka, Justin Pickering, Ben Goodwin