USA Water Polo Announces Roster For World Cup Division I Action

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USA Water Polo has announced the roster of 16 athletes selected to represent the United States at the upcoming 2026 World Aquatics World Cup Division I Tournament in Alexandroupolis, Greece. The team features 11 returners from last year's World Aquatics Championships, including two-time Olympians Max Irving, Hannes Daube, and Marko Vavic. The squad will train in Kotor, Montenegro before the tournament and play an exhibition match against Montenegro on April 3.

Why it matters

This tournament marks the senior national team debut for Luke Nelson and is an important step in the USA's preparation for major international competitions like the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The Division I World Cup is a crucial event for the men's national team to gain experience and test their skills against top international opponents.

The details

The 16-player USA roster includes 11 returners from last year's World Aquatics Championships, led by two-time Olympians Max Irving, Hannes Daube, and Marko Vavic. The team has been drawn into Group B for the preliminary round, where they will face Croatia, Italy, and Spain. Only 14 athletes will be eligible for each match, with the final roster selections to be determined prior to each game day. The team will train in Kotor, Montenegro before the tournament and play an exhibition match against Montenegro on April 3.

• The 2026 World Aquatics World Cup Division I Tournament will take place from April 6-12 in Alexandroupolis, Greece.
• Team USA's first match is on Monday, April 6 at 11:15am PT against Croatia.
• The exhibition match against Montenegro is scheduled for April 3 at 10:00am PT.

What’s next

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