The Hungarian men’s water polo team defeated reigning Olympic champions Serbia 19–18 in the semi-finals of the World Championships in Singapore on Tuesday.
The Hungarians led by five goals with just six minutes remaining, but the Serbs mounted a late comeback, making for a tense finish. The victory marks Hungary’s first win over Serbia at the World Championships since 1998.
Following the latest triumph in Fukuoka in 2023, national team captain Zsolt Varga is now preparing for his second consecutive World Championship final at the helm of the men’s team. Hungary will face European champions Spain in Thursday’s final. The two sides met earlier in the tournament during the third round of the group stage, where Spain edged out Hungary by a single goal, thanks to a 5–1 run in the fourth quarter.
Hungary is on the brink of making history: if Varga’s team defeat Spain, the country will secure its fifth world championship title—more than any other nation. Hungary currently shares the record with Italy, both holding four titles. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán alluded to this in his congratulatory message on Facebook, declaring: ‘Hungary is a polo kingdom!’
The Hungarian women’s water polo team also advanced to the final and will face Greece on Wednesday.
Hungary has long been a powerhouse in the sport. The national team has been crowned European champions 13 times—a continental record. Notably, Hungary’s most recent European title came in 2020, in a dramatic shootout victory against Spain.
The country is also the most successful nation in Olympic water polo history, having secured nine gold medals. Hungary famously won three consecutive Olympic titles from Sydney 2000 to Beijing 2008—an unprecedented feat in the modern era. Between 1928 and 1980, Hungary reached the podium in every Olympic tournament, claiming 12 consecutive medals, including back-to-back golds in 1932–1936 and 1952–1956.
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