Waterpolo experience tournament

What are your guys predictions for 18u & 16u teams playing against some of the best international club teams

Injuries. The US teams just started playing together and the Europeans game will be more physical.

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Hats off to the organizers for securing the participation of the European teams. I’d like to see more tournaments like this on both coasts.

My son’s team played CNB and FTC in the Next Gen Cup in Barcelona last September. Great experience with teams from Europe, the U.S., and South Africa. Both teams should be considered favorites.

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I’m not sure if I’m reading the schedule correctly, but do the Dons have 3 games in a row on Friday night at OceanView?

where do you see the schedule as we are being told it will be a very competetive tournament with TOP TEAMS from US as well as EUROPE for U18s! Would love to see the participants and what are the chances for the TOP US team competing against the elite European clubs from their age groups? Is this being streamed live?

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Here’s a direct link

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Teams and Schedule is on WPE Instagram.

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Maybe not the final schedule. North Irvine has 3 games also. But the second game is in Long Beach at 5:30pm and then 7:15 Huntington Beach.

Schedule in the spreadhseet format most of us are used to…lol…

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Looks like amazing competition, Dons (Cathedral team?), Newport (Seniors ONLY???), CNB, FTC, Partizan , and many more… are all the teams full strength, what a way to start the 2026, should be fun to watch!

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I’ve heard that Friday will be running clock. That’s the only way 45 minute slots could possibly work. I’m expecting delays.

I’m surprised that this forum has been relatively quiet with limited posts on the tournament considering the level of teams / clubs involved. It seems like all the European teams (full top player squads) are visiting college campuses and playing scrimmages with local clubs all over southern California. Anyone had a chance to watch any of these scrimmages?

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We’re also hearing refs may be letting more go (more EU-style officiating). The Euros have been super aggressive in scrimmages (trying to show dominance) and players are reporting confusion and hard time adjusting to what’s being called vs not called.

Hopefully the refs keep good control of the games so things stay competitive but still clean and SAFE.

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I hope I am wrong but this is shaping up to be a chaotic disaster.

Schedule keeps changing, random (and not all top tier) teams added in past few days.

Teams are scheduled for games at LBCC AND Harvard Westlake within a few hours…in LA Friday traffic.

The app that is supposed to be the hub of the tournament is glitchy and uses a random 3rd party offshore servicer to buy tickets ($60 for the weekend) and merch…that foreign servicer would prefer to have your bank acct and routing # as payment rather than a Credit Card. $5 extra if you do use a credit card.

Chaotic scrimmages with dozens of athletes and Euro teams no showing other scrimmages. (The North Irvine Coach’s tik tok has some thoughts).

Should be interesting. Really hoping it is not another case of over promising and under delivering for our sport.

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$65 tickets? Absurd. What are we doing?

this is wild!

Also, i saw that 16U for Dons, Mission and CIU are playing in WPE and Futures. i wonder which rosters will show up where…or more driving :slight_smile:

Competition looks unreal this weekend — from what we’ve seen in scrimmages, the Euro teams as well as the local SoCal teams are here full strength and it’s going to be legit.

I do agree $65 for tickets IS STEEP, and I hope the organizers reconsider pricing to boost attendance.

Also worth noting Harvard-Westlake most likely a late backup venue for teams that can’t make Long Beach on Friday due to school. With LA traffic, limited pool space, kids in school, and teams traveling from NorCal and San Diego (plus international teams), a few minor logistics are expected — but nothing that won’t get worked out.

Should be a fun weekend and a great experience for the athletes and the sport, these Euros are worth watching and hope our local boys can give them a run!

Absurd is the first thing that comes to mind.

I wonder if there’s any chance something like this could be organized for the girls too—such a cool opportunity to play against European teams for these guys.

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