Montenegro and Georgia have advanced to the final of the World Cup Division 2 tournament in Malta, securing their qualification for the Final Eight in Sydney.
The Montenegrins and Georgians joined Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, and Croatia—the top five teams from Division 1—as well as the host nation, Australia, in the final tournament.
In the Division 2 semifinals , Montenegro defeated France 15:11, while Georgia beat Germany 19:13.
The winner of tomorrow’s final in Malta will face Greece in the quarterfinals of the Final Eight in Sydney, while the losing team will meet Italy.
Montenegro secured a big advantage in the early stages of the game against France. Midway through the first quarter, the teams were tied at 2:2. Between the 6th and 10th minutes, Montenegro went on a stunning 5:0 run (including three goals from penalty shots) and jumped to a 7:2 lead. France never recovered from that. In the 21st minute, Montenegro established a 6-goal lead (12:6) and then slowed down. A minute and a half before the end, Alexis Drahe made it 11:13, waking up France’s hopes. But Nikola Moskov quickly responded with his 5th and 6th goals and set the final score, 15:11.
Moskov led the Montenegrins’ attack. Thomas Vernoux scored seven for France, but it’s a slim consolation for the French player.
Georgia and Germany were in an even contest until 5:5 (10th minute). Pjesivac and Akhvlediani gave Georgia a 7:5 lead in the next few minutes. After that, the Germans didn’t equalize, and Georgia secured the win in the third quarter. At halftime, the score was 8:6. In the middle of the third period, it stood 9:7. The Georgians went on a 4:0 run in the last four and a half minutes of the quarter and jumped from 9:7 to 13:7. They capitalized on a violent foul committed by Germany’s captain Denis Strelezkij in the 20th minute. Playing with a man fewer, Germany couldn’t keep up with its rival.
Germany reduced the gap to four with two goals in the first 63 seconds of the final quarter (9:13), but didn’t come closer.
2026 World Men’s Cup Division 2, Day 6
Semifinals
France – Montenegro 11:15 (2:4, 3:6, 2:2, 4:3)
France: Vernoux 7, Vitrant 2, Drahe 1, Mas 1.
Montenegro: Moskov 6, Vuckovic 3, Perkovic 2, Matkovic 1, V.Radovic 1, Gojkovic 1, Janovic 1
Georgia – Germany 19:13 (4:3, 4:3, 5:1,6:6)
Georgia: Akhvlediani 4, Jakhaia 3, Pjesivac 3, Shushiashvili 2, Theshelashvili 2, Dadvani 1, Bitadze 1, Meskhi 1, Vasic 1, Sarc 1.
Germany: Bozic 4, Hofmann 3, Strelezkij 2, E.Metten 2, Schipper 1, Gansen 1.
Classification matches
5th – 8th place classification, semifinals
Netural Athletes – Romania 12:16 (2:5, 1:4, 2:4, 7:3)
Ukraine – Australia 15:21 (5:4, 5:6, 2:8, 3:3)
9th – 12th place classification, semifinals: Canada – Slovakia 14:12, Brazil – Malta 12:13.
13th – 16th place classification, semifinals:  Portugal – Argentina 15:20, Turkiye – China 22:19.
17th-place match: Slovenia – Poland 11:7.
19th-place match: Kazakhstan – Singapore 14:11.
21st-place match: Great Britain – South Africa 18:8.
Standings: 17. Slovenia, 18. Poland, 19. Kazakhstan, 20. Singapoe, 21. Great Britain, 22. South Africa, 23. Hong Kong.
Visit Total Waterpolo Arena for all the scores and statistics of the World Cup Division 1
 More articles about the World Cup and the former World League
