Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Water Polo World Championship match.
Japan narrowly advanced to the play-offs of the World Championship despite defeats to all the top-ranked teams in the group stage. They now face Great Britain, who have shown real determination and even managed to challenge the reigning Olympic champions, Spain.
Japan (women)
Japan are not regular contenders at major international events. Their only Olympic appearance came in 2020, where they finished 9th. They have competed in the World Championships six times, with their best result being 11th place. In the current tournament, the squad recorded just one win — against Croatia (25:12), another team outside the global top ten. They suffered heavy defeats against Greece (15:25) and Hungary (13:33). Although the squad claimed a narrow 15:12 win over Great Britain last year, their recent form has been underwhelming.
Great Britain (women)
Great Britain are currently ranked 11th in the world and have made a strong impression at this World Championship. They opened the tournament with back-to-back wins — over France (12:9) and South Africa (12:3) — before losing to Spain (7:16), despite winning the third quarter of that match. Since February 2024, the squad has picked up six victories in nine outings, with defeats coming against Japan, Spain, and a narrow loss to Germany (11:12).
Japan (women) vs Great Britain (women) Prediction
Japan may be considered favourites heading into the match, but Great Britain are expected to offer stiff resistance, as seen during the group stage. Even in defeat, the squad is likely to keep the scoreline close.
