When and where is the U16 Water Polo World Championship semifinal played?

The semifinal match between Croatia and Serbia is played on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 7 PM at the Mladost pool by the Sava River.

How did Croatia advance to the semifinals?

Croatia routed Egypt 15-3 in the quarterfinals, with Duje Srzić scoring three goals and being named the best player of the match.

Who is the head coach of the Croatian U16 team?

The head coach of the Croatian U16 team is Bruno Sabioni.

Has Croatia played against Serbia before this semifinal?

Yes, the two teams played preparatory matches in Serbia and in Varaždin, so according to coach Sabioni, they know each other very well.

Water Polo

Little 'Barracudas' Crush Egypt

V.P. · 07. 08. 2026. | 2 min

Croatia's U16 water polo team convincingly defeated Egypt 15-3 and advanced to the World Championship semifinals, where they face Serbia.

Summary

Croatia's U16 team convincingly beat Egypt 15-3 in the World Championship quarterfinals.
In the semifinals on Saturday at 7 PM, they play against Serbia, who eliminated Brazil.
Duje Srzić was the best player of the quarterfinal with three goals.
Head coach Bruno Sabioni expects a close match and calls on fans for support.

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Croatia's men's U16 water polo team secured a spot in the semifinals of the World Championship being held at the Mladost pool by the Sava River. In the quarterfinal match played on Friday, August 7, 2026, the young Croatian national team routed Egypt with a score of 15-3.

Srzić Shines in Dominant Victory

Duje Srzić was named the best player of the match, scoring three goals. Roko Koncul, Deni Sappe, Vito Lokas, and Ante Domazet were also in fine form, each finding the back of the net twice.

Semifinal Clash with Serbia on Saturday

In the fight for a place in the final, Croatia faces a big showdown against their Serbian counterparts on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 7 PM. Serbia advanced by defeating Brazil 11-7 in their quarterfinal match.

Head coach Bruno Sabioni is aware that his team faces a closely contested match. He emphasized that the two teams know each other extremely well from their preparatory meetings.

"We've made it to the top four, but now we all need to stay calm. Having come this far, we obviously want to go all the way. We played against Serbia during preparations in their country, as well as two matches in Varaždin. We know each other very well, and I believe it will be a one-goal game. We'll analyze them carefully to be at our best against them on Saturday. I invite all fans to fill the stands and give us their support," said coach Sabioni.