~ Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town harbour is ready to host the next chapter in aquatic sports history as the first-ever World Aquatics Water Polo 4x4 Open Championships takes place from 31 August - 6 September 2026.
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 29.08.2026) :: The groundbreaking event marks the global debut of Water Polo 4x4 (“WP4”), a fast-paced, high-intensity discipline designed to complement traditional water polo and expand the sport’s global reach. Hosted in Dubrovnik's iconic ancient harbour - known by millions as a key filming location for Game of Thrones - the tournament will feature four players per team, a scaled-down field of play and a shorter shot clock designed to deliver rapid, non-stop action tailored for open-water and urban locations.
Renowned worldwide for its passion for water polo, the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' has hosted open-water water polo for over a century, most notably through its legendary Wild League amateur tournament, held annually in the very same port.
"The launch of WP4 represents another major milestone in our vision to make aquatic sports more dynamic, accessible and globally appealing," said Husain Al-Musallam, President of World Aquatics. "By introducing a faster, adaptable format, we are providing more opportunities for athletes and federations while bringing the excitement of water polo directly to new fans. Dubrovnik’s beautiful harbour is the perfect backdrop for the launch of this amazing new discipline."
"Croatia has water polo in its DNA, and hosting the global debut of WP4 in our historic harbour is a great honour," said Tomislav Dumančić, the President of JUG Dubrovnik. "Transforming this iconic setting into a showcase of sport is incredibly exciting and we look forward to sharing our rich Croatian culture and warm hospitality as we welcome some of water polo’s biggest stars for an unforgettable week of world-class competition.”
The inaugural World Aquatics WP4 Open Championships will host 26 teams from 20 countries from the five continents, featuring top athletes including Rachel Fattal, Paula Camus and Max Irving.
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