Wikipedia

Croatia men's national under-18 water polo team

Croatia men's national under 18 water polo team is a national U-18 water polo team that represents Croatia in men's international youth water polo competitions. It is governed by Croatian Water Polo Federation (HVS). They are two times World champions (2016, 2026).[1][2]

Croatia men's national under-18 water polo team
FINA codeCRO
ConfederationLEN (Europe)
Head coachHrvoje Koljanin[1]
CaptainNikša Batoš[1]
Best result Gold (2016, 2026)[1]
Last updated: 9 July 2026

Results

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Team won gold medal at the 2016 World Championship in Podgorica, Montenegro.[1][2]

Team won second world title at the 2026 Championship in Rio Maior, Portugal.[1][3][4] After the loss in the first round to Montenegro (12-16), team defeated Hungary (12-9) and Serbia (15-11) in the group stage, then Italy (12-11) in quarterfinals, Spain (18-17) in semi-finals and USA (21-20) in the finals.[1] Captain and goalkeeper Nikša Batoš was named as the goalkeeper of the tournament, and coach Hrvoje Koljanin as the coach of the tournament.[1] Nardo Skejić was named men of the match, with 5 goals.[3][4] Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković[5] and president Zoran Milanović[6] held reception for the team after the world title.

World Youth Championship

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Year Round Position
Australia 2012Semi-final4th
Turkey 2014Quarterfinal8th
Montenegro 2016Champions1st[1]
Hungary 2018Quarterfinal6th
Serbia 2022Quarterfinal5th
Argentina 2024Quarterfinal8th
Portugal 2026Champions1st[1]

Squads

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  • World Champions, 2026 (2nd title):[1][6] Nikola Batoš (captain), Duje Burazin, Nikola Ferić, Toni Galušić, Petar Erenda, Filip Rogić, Mihael Mladineo, Matej Šorić, Dominik Beljan, Nardo Skejić, Nardo Dragaš, Marin Bajurin, Ivano Lončar, Toma Drobac and Deni Sappe. Coach: Hrvoje Koljanin.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Hrvatski vaterpolisti (U-18) postali juniorski svjetski prvaci" [Croatian waterpolists (U-18) became junior world champions]. HOO (in Croatian). Croatian Olympic Committee. 4 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Nakon svjetskog zlata mladi vaterpolisti vratili se u Hrvatsku" [After winning world gold, Croatian young waterpolists returned to Croatia]. Sport (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT). 5 July 2026. Ovim povijesnim trijumfom, podmladak naših proslavljenih Barakuda vratio se na svjetski tron točno deset godina nakon što je Hrvatska osvojila zlato u istom uzrastu na Svjetskom prvenstvu u Podgorici 2016. godine.
  3. 1 2 "Hrvatska je prvak svijeta!!!" [Croatia is world champion!!!]. HVS (in Croatian). Croatian Water Polo Federation. 4 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Hrvatski juniori svjetski prvaci u vaterpolu!" [Croatian juniors world champions in water polo]. Sport (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT). 4 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Premijer Plenković primio svjetske prvake" [Prime minister Plenković received world champions]. Sport (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 9 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Milanović primio svjetske vaterpolske prvake" [President Milanović received world water polo champions]. Sport (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 10 July 2026.
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