Israel Finishes 16th at U16 Women's Water Polo World Championship After Narrow Loss to Ukraine

The Israeli U16 women's water polo team concluded the World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, in 16th place following a dramatic 12-11 defeat to Ukraine in their final match on July 31, 2026. Israel started strong, leading 5-2 after the first quarter, but Ukraine rallied to lead 6-5 by halftime and maintained momentum to secure the win. This loss marked Israel's third consecutive defeat in classification matches for places 13-16, following earlier losses to Italy (12-5) and Canada (7-4).

Yahli Rokach stood out as Israel's top scorer throughout the tournament, netting five goals in the final game. Coach Idan Kaftori reflected on the team's performance, emphasizing the importance of hard work and consistent training, stating, "There are no shortcuts in sports, especially in our discipline. We will return home and consider how to improve and advance for next year and beyond."

Looking ahead, the Israeli U20 women's team will begin their European Championship campaign against Greece the following day. The summer will continue to be busy for Israel's youth water polo teams, with the U18 women's team and U20 men's team also competing in upcoming world and European championships, alongside the U16 boys' team at the World Championship.