Germany Women Rout 8-1 to Take Home Canoe Polo Worlds

Germany Women's Canoe Polo won the 2026 ICF Canoe Polo World Championship on home water in Duisburg, delivering an emphatic 8–1 victory over France in the final.

A final decided in the first minutes

The match before full stands at the Regattabahn Duisburg turned early. Esra Oezbay opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, and Jill Rutzen added a second goal shortly afterwards.

France pulled one back to 2–1, but Germany answered immediately and took a 3–1 lead into halftime.

Five unanswered goals after the break

After the change of ends Germany pulled further away with varied, creative attacking play. Katharin Grünewald scored, then Rutzen struck twice more to complete her hat-trick.

A home championship to remember

The women's gold capped a strong six-day event for the host nation. The German men took silver after an extra-time loss to Italy, and both under-21 sides won bronze.

Head coach Leonie Wagner called the finish ideal. "Gold und Silber am letzten Tag, richtig, richtig stark," she told reporters. "Gold für unsere Damen. Wir können so zufrieden damit sein."