Malta achieved their first victory in the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup 2026 Division II Men by defeating Kazakhstan 19-7 on Wednesday evening. Despite the earlier loss of captain Stevie Camilleri to a facial injury, Malta displayed a strong offensive performance, led by Ivan Nagaev's five goals. Other significant scorers included Julian Valletta with three goals, and Luigi Dimech, Jake Cachia, Sam Engerer, and Elijah Schembri each with two. The win, which saw Malta lead 4-2 after the first quarter and 8-4 at halftime, provided a crucial confidence boost for coach Milan Cirovic's squad as they continue their campaign against Romania on Thursday.