Oleksandr Svishchov: the task for 2026 is to return Ukrainian water polo to the pre-war level

The head of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov, spoke about the strategic goals of water polo development for the coming period. According to him, the key tasks of the federation are to prepare national teams for the 2026 World Cup and restore the full structure of domestic championships.

The President the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation noted that the preparation of the men’s national team will begin with control matches against Slovakia, and the tournament will be hosted by Malta.

Rejuvenation of national teams

Oleksandr Svishchov emphasized the importance of rejuvenating the national teams. He said that 80 percent of Ukrainian legionnaires have already confirmed their readiness to join the national team.

A separate area of work is the return of large water polo centers to the elite. The Ukrainian Water Polo Federation President expressed hope that next season the men’s Super League will feature a team from Kyiv, and the women’s championship will be strengthened by teams from Dnipro and Kharkiv.

Oleksandr Svishchov emphasized that youth development and support of the U16 and U20 junior national teams is the foundation that will allow maintaining a high level of Ukrainian water polo despite the challenges of war.

World Aquatics solutions

The head of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov, has sharply criticized the decision of World Aquatics to allow so-called neutral athletes to participate in international competitions. He called the decision unacceptable and contrary to Olympic values.

Svishchov said that the federation has already lodged official protests with international institutions and is forming a coalition of allies to put systemic pressure on World Aquatics to prevent the implementation of this decision from January 1, 2026.

Oleksandr Svishchov on the priorities of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation

Along with his international activities, Oleksandr Svishchov is focused on preserving the domestic sports potential. He expressed special gratitude to the teams from Kharkiv and Mariupol, who continue to train and play in the Super League under constant shelling and power outages.

As one of the key investors in Western Ukraine, Svishchov continues to invest in the development of sports infrastructure, in particular through the LEOLAND complex, creating conditions for the professional growth of young athletes.

Mr. Svishchov emphasized that patriotism today is manifested through systematic investments in the future of Ukrainian youth and protection of the state’s interests on the sports front.