U18 Women Set for the 2026 World Championships in Tenerife

The New Zealand Women's U18 National Water Polo team is gearing up for the 2026 World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships, set to take place from 16th of August to 23rd of August 2026 in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain. This prestigious tournament will feature 20 teams from across the globe!

Building momentum in Barcelona

As part of their final preparations for the 2026 World Aquatics Women’s U18 Water Polo Championships, the New Zealand U18 Women have spent the past week training at the Barcelona International Water Polo Academy (BIWPA) in Spain, before competing in the BIWPA Nations Cup in Sabadell from 11–13 August.

The tournament brought together leading U18 women’s national teams from Croatia, the Netherlands, Canada, China and New Zealand, providing the squad with valuable international match experience ahead of the World Championships. Across five matches, New Zealand faced a range of different playing styles and high-quality opposition, including two close contests against Croatia.

The experience has given the team an opportunity to test their combinations, build confidence under pressure and experience the intensity of international competition, while identifying areas to refine ahead of their opening World Championship match. With their final preparation now complete, the team will turn their focus to Tenerife, Spain, where they will compete against the world's best U18 women's teams at the 2026 World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships.

New Zealand will play Türkiye and Colombia in the group stage of the tournament.

• Sunday, 16 August, –  8:00 PM NZST – New Zealand vs Türkiye
• Tuesday, 18 August – 11:00 PM NZST – New Zealand vs Colombia

(Remaining fixtures to be confirmed)

Watch live

Each match of the 2026 World Aquatics Women'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/5140/world-aquatics-women-s-u18-water-polo-championships-2026

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

New Zealand Women's U18 National Water Polo team:

Team list: 

• Annabelle IMLAH (Atlantis)
• Ella O’BRIEN (Marist)
• Erin VEAL (Sydney Uni)
• Gemma O’BRIEN (North Harbour)
• Grainne AITKEN (North Harbour)
• India-Rose SCHOLES (Sea Wolf)
• Isabella LAMBIE (Sea Wolf)
• Jemma McKINLEY (Atlantis)
• Maya McLAY (Hutt)
• Olivia PATTERSON (Atlantis)
• Ruby BECH (Atlantis)
• Sasha TINDALL (North Harbour)
• Sophie WALTER (Atlantis)
• Zoe KNIGHT (Sea Wolf)

Non-travelling reserves: Addison YOUNGMAN-MARK (Canterbury), Danica PHILLIPS (Manawatu), Isabella NEEDHAM (Manawatu), Koko WONG (Atlantis). 

Support staff: Rachael Roset, Facundo Policarpo, Hannah Ngare