Greece have won their first major international title in men’s water polo after defeating Hungary 15-14 in the World Cup final in Sydney.

Captain Stylianos Argyropoulos Kanakakis scored with 12.7 seconds remaining to lift his nation to victory.

The win ends a long wait for a team that has established itself among the world’s leading water polo nations but had previously fallen short in five major international finals.

Theodoros Vlachos’ side had already ended another long wait earlier this year, winning bronze at the 2026 European Championship in Belgrade to claim Greece’s first European medal since 1997.

Greece’s first appearance in a major international final came at the 1997 FINA Cup in Athens, where they lost 8-5 to the United States.

More than two decades later, Serbia defeated Greece on penalties in the 2018 Mediterranean Games final before beating them again in the gold medal match at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

Greece suffered further disappointment in 2023, when Hungary won the World Championship final in Fukuoka after a penalty shootout.

Spain then denied Greece the World Cup title in last year’s final in Podgorica.