Water polo at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification

The men's qualification for the Olympic water polo tournament occurred between July 2023 and February 2024, allocating twelve teams for the final tournament. As the host nation, France reserved a direct spot each for the men's team. ^{[2] [3]}

The remainder of the total quota was attributed to the eligible NOCs through a tripartite qualification pathway. First, the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, scheduled for 17 to 29 July in Fukuoka, Japan, produced the winners and runners-up of the men's water polo tournament qualifying for Paris 2024. Five more quota places were awarded to the highest-ranked eligible NOC at each of the continental meets (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) approved by World Aquatics. If any of the continental qualifying tournaments did not occur within the qualifying period, the vacant spot was entitled to the highest-ranked eligible NOC from a respective continent at the succeeding edition of the Worlds. ^[3]

The last batch of quota places was assigned to the four highest-ranked eligible NOCs at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar to complete the twelve-team field for the Games. ^{[2] [3]}

Qualification summary

Qualification	Date	Host	Berths	Qualified team
Host country	—		1	France
2023 World Aquatics Championships	17–29 July 2023	Fukuoka	2	Hungary
				Greece
2022 Asian Games	2–7 October 2023	Hangzhou	1	Japan
2023 Pan American Games	30 October – 4 November 2023	Santiago	1	United States
2024 European Championships	4–16 January 2024	Dubrovnik/Zagreb	1	Spain
2024 World Aquatics Championships	5–17 February 2024	Doha	4	Croatia
				Italy
				Serbia
				Montenegro
2024 World Aquatics Championships – Africa			1	South Africa
2024 World Aquatics Championships – Oceania			1	Australia
2024 World Aquatics Championships – Reallocation			1	Romania [lower-alpha 1]
Total			12

1. South Africa withdrew from the tournament after the 2024 World Aquatics Championships. Romania, as the best non-qualified team, took their spot. ^[4]

2023 World Championships

Main article: Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament

The winner and the runner-up of the men's water polo tournament at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan obtained a ticket for Paris 2024. ^[3]

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Greece	3	3	0	0	0	46	25	+21	9	Quarterfinals
2	United States	3	2	0	0	1	48	28	+20	6	Playoffs
3	Australia	3	1	0	0	2	39	35	+4	3
4	Kazakhstan	3	0	0	0	3	13	58	−45	0

Source: Sportresult
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Italy	3	3	0	0	0	55	17	+38	9	Quarterfinals
2	France	3	2	0	0	1	38	32	+6	6	Playoffs
3	Canada	3	1	0	0	2	30	49	−19	3
4	China	3	0	0	0	3	23	48	−25	0

Source: Sportresult
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Hungary	3	3	0	0	0	49	31	+18	9	Quarterfinals
2	Croatia	3	2	0	0	1	51	29	+22	6	Playoffs
3	Japan (H)	3	1	0	0	2	40	42	−2	3
4	Argentina	3	0	0	0	3	27	65	−38	0

Source: Sportresult
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
(H) Host

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Spain	3	3	0	0	0	54	27	+27	9	Quarterfinals
2	Serbia	3	1	1	0	1	57	34	+23	5	Playoffs
3	Montenegro	3	1	0	1	1	55	34	+21	4
4	South Africa	3	0	0	0	3	21	92	−71	0

Source: Sportresult
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Bracket

Playoffs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

25 July

Greece

10

23 July

Montenegro

9

Croatia

12

27 July

Montenegro

13

Greece

13

Serbia

7

25 July

Italy

11 (3)

23 July

Serbia (PSO)

11 (4)

Japan

10

29 July

Serbia

16

Greece

10 (3)

Hungary (PSO)

10 (4)

25 July

Hungary

13

23 July

United States

12

United States

13

27 July

Canada

10

Hungary

12

Spain

11

Third place

25 July

29 July

Spain

7

Serbia

6

23 July

France

6

Spain

9

Australia

8

France

11

5th place bracket

	5th–8th place semifinals				Fifth place game
	27 July
	Montenegro	6
					29 July
	Italy	10
					Italy	16
	27 July
					France	9
	United States	13 (3)
	France (PSO)	13 (5)
					Seventh place game
					29 July
					Montenegro	12 (3)
					United States (PSO)	12 (5)

9th place bracket

	9th–12th place semifinals				Ninth place game
	25 July
	Canada	5
					27 July
	Croatia	13
					Croatia	17
	25 July
					Australia	10
	Australia	16
	Japan	15
					Eleventh place game
					27 July
					Canada	11
					Japan	23

13th place bracket

	13th–16th place semifinals				13th place game
	23 July
	Kazakhstan	12
					25 July
	China	5
					Kazakhstan	7
	23 July
					Argentina	11
	Argentina	15
	South Africa	6
					15th place game
					25 July
					China	16
					South Africa	8

Final standing

Rank [5]	Team
	Hungary
	Greece
	Spain
4	Serbia
5	Italy
6	France
7	United States
8	Montenegro
9	Croatia
10	Australia
11	Japan
12	Canada
13	Argentina
14	Kazakhstan
15	China
16	South Africa

Continental tournaments

The highest-ranked eligible NOC from each of the five continental qualification tournaments (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) secured a quota place for Paris 2024. If any of the continental qualifying tournaments did not occur within the qualifying period, the vacant spot was entitled to the highest-ranked eligible NOC from a respective continent at the succeeding edition of the Worlds. ^[3]

Asia

Main article: Water polo at the 2022 Asian Games – Men

Preliminary round

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	China (H)	3	3	0	0	0	57	23	+34	9	Quarterfinals
2	Iran	3	2	0	0	1	48	26	+22	6
3	South Korea	3	1	0	0	2	35	37	−2	3
4	Thailand	3	0	0	0	3	22	76	−54	0

Source: HAGOC
(H) Host

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Japan	3	3	0	0	0	70	24	+46	9	Quarterfinals
2	Kazakhstan	3	2	0	0	1	60	23	+37	6
3	Singapore	3	1	0	0	2	20	58	−38	3
4	Hong Kong	3	0	0	0	3	18	63	−45	0

Source: HAGOC

Bracket

	Quarterfinals				Semifinals				Gold medal match
	5 October
	Iran	13
					6 October
	Singapore	6
					Iran	11
	5 October
					Japan	18
	Thailand	2
									7 October
	Japan	23
									Japan	11
	5 October
									China	7
	South Korea	8
					6 October
	Kazakhstan	15
					Kazakhstan	13
	5 October
					China (PSO)	14			Bronze medal match
	China	23
									7 October
	Hong Kong	3
									Iran	9
									Kazakhstan (PSO)	10

Final standing

Rank	Country
	Japan
	China
	Kazakhstan
4	Iran
5	Singapore
6	South Korea
7	Hong Kong
8	Thailand

Europe

Main article: 2024 Men's European Water Polo Championship

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Spain	3	2	0	1	0	32	27	+5	7	Quarterfinals
2	Croatia (H)	3	1	1	1	0	32	27	+5	6
3	Montenegro	3	0	2	0	1	33	35	−2	4	Playoffs
4	France	3	0	0	1	2	23	31	−8	1

Source: LEN
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
(H) Host

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Hungary	3	2	0	0	1	33	26	+7	6 [lower-alpha 1]	Quarterfinals
2	Italy	3	2	0	0	1	42	23	+19	6 [lower-alpha 1]
3	Greece	3	2	0	0	1	36	32	+4	6 [lower-alpha 1]	Playoffs
4	Georgia	3	0	0	0	3	25	55	−30	0

Source: LEN
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
Notes:

1. Hungary 3 Pts, +3 GD; Italy 3 Pts, +2 GD; Greece 3 Pts, −5 GD

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Serbia	3	3	0	0	0	57	11	+46	9	Playoffs
2	Germany	3	2	0	0	1	38	35	+3	6
3	Malta	3	1	0	0	2	30	50	−20	3	Classification round
4	Israel	3	0	0	0	3	20	49	−29	0

Source: LEN
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Romania	3	3	0	0	0	33	20	+13	9	Playoffs
2	Netherlands	3	2	0	0	1	48	25	+23	6
3	Slovakia	3	1	0	0	2	24	32	−8	3	Classification round
4	Slovenia	3	0	0	0	3	19	47	−28	0

Source: LEN
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Bracket

Play-offs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

12 January

Hungary (PSO)

10 (5)

10 January

Serbia

10 (4)

France

10

14 January

Serbia

14

Hungary

8

Croatia

11

12 January

Croatia

13

11 January

Greece

8

Greece

15

16 January

Netherlands

10

Croatia

10

Spain

11

12 January

Spain

24

11 January

Romania

7

Georgia

11

14 January

Romania

18

Spain

7

Italy

4

Third place

12 January

16 January

Italy

14

Hungary

7

10 January

Montenegro

8

Italy

12

Montenegro

10

Germany

5

Final standing

Rank [6]	Team
	Spain
	Croatia
	Italy
4	Hungary
5	Greece
6	Montenegro
7	Serbia
8	Romania
9	France
10	Georgia
11	Netherlands
12	Germany
13	Slovakia
14	Slovenia
15	Malta
16	Israel

Americas

Main article: Water polo at the 2023 Pan American Games – Men's tournament

Pool A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	United States	3	3	0	0	0	82	18	+64	9	Quarterfinals
2	Brazil	3	2	0	0	1	46	39	+7	6
3	Puerto Rico	3	1	0	0	2	29	58	−29	3
4	Mexico	3	0	0	0	3	24	66	−42	0

Source: Santiago 2023
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.

Pool B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Canada	3	3	0	0	0	71	18	+53	9	Quarterfinals
2	Argentina	3	2	0	0	1	43	21	+22	6
3	Cuba	3	1	0	0	2	24	58	−34	3
4	Chile (H)	3	0	0	0	3	16	57	−41	0

Source: Santiago 2023
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
(H) Host

Bracket

	Quarterfinals				Semifinals				Gold medal match
	2 November
	Brazil	16
					3 November
	Cuba	6
					Brazil	13
	2 November
					Canada	12
	Mexico	5
									4 November
	Canada	20
									Brazil	7
	2 November
									United States	17
	Puerto Rico	9
					3 November
	Argentina	20
					Argentina	7
	2 November
					United States	22			Bronze medal match
	United States	28
									4 November
	Chile	2
									Canada	10
									Argentina	12

	5–8th place semifinals				Fifth place
	3 November
	Cuba	11
					4 November
	Mexico	16
					Mexico	9
	3 November
					Puerto Rico	13
	Puerto Rico	16
	Chile	6
					Seventh place
					4 November
					Cuba (PSO)	7 (5)
					Chile	7 (4)

Final standing

Rank	Team
	United States
	Brazil
	Argentina
4	Canada
5	Puerto Rico
6	Mexico
7	Cuba
8	Chile

2024 World Championships

Main article: Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament

The top four teams, the top African team and the top Oceanian team of the men's water polo tournament at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar obtained a ticket for Paris 2024. ^[3]

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Spain	3	3	0	0	0	46	20	+26	9	Quarterfinals
2	Croatia	3	2	0	0	1	48	24	+24	6	Playoffs
3	Australia	3	1	0	0	2	46	35	+11	3
4	South Africa	3	0	0	0	3	18	79	−61	0	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Greece	3	3	0	0	0	60	22	+38	9	Quarterfinals
2	France	3	2	0	0	1	44	33	+11	6	Playoffs
3	China	3	1	0	0	2	25	48	−23	3
4	Brazil	3	0	0	0	3	23	49	−26	0	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Serbia	3	3	0	0	0	45	28	+17	9	Quarterfinals
2	Montenegro	3	1	1	0	1	30	36	−6	5	Playoffs
3	United States	3	1	0	1	1	41	30	+11	4
4	Japan	3	0	0	0	3	26	48	−22	0	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Hungary	3	2	1	0	0	52	18	+34	8	Quarterfinals
2	Italy	3	2	0	1	0	58	22	+36	7	Playoffs
3	Romania	3	1	0	0	2	43	34	+9	3
4	Kazakhstan	3	0	0	0	3	7	86	−79	0	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.

Bracket

Playoffs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

13 February

Spain

15

11 February

Montenegro

12

Montenegro

12

15 February

Romania

9

Spain

6

Italy

8

13 February

Greece

10

11 February

Italy

11

United States

12

17 February

Italy

13

Italy

11 (2)

Croatia (PSO)

11 (4)

13 February

Serbia

13

11 February

Croatia

15

Croatia

22

15 February

China

4

Croatia

11 (6)

France

11 (5)

Third place

13 February

17 February

Hungary

10

Spain

14

11 February

France

11

France

10

Australia

8

France

11

5th place bracket

	5th–8th place semifinals				Fifth place game
	15 February
	Montenegro	10 (3)
					17 February
	Greece (PSO)	10 (4)
					Greece	15
	15 February
					Serbia	11
	Serbia	11
	Hungary	10
					Seventh place game
					17 February
					Montenegro	14 (2)
					Hungary (PSO)	14 (4)

9th place bracket

	9th–12th place semifinals				Ninth place game
	13 February
	China	7
					15 February
	Romania	9
					Romania	9
	13 February
					United States	13
	Australia	10
	United States	16
					Eleventh place game
					15 February
					China	7
					Australia	17

13th place bracket

	13th–16th place semifinals				13th place game
	11 February
	South Africa	5
					13 February
	Brazil	18
					Brazil	11
	11 February
					Japan	22
	Japan	17
	Kazakhstan	4
					15th place game
					13 February
					South Africa	11
					Kazakhstan	10

Final standing

Rank [7]	Team
	Croatia
	Italy
	Spain
4	France
5	Greece
6	Serbia
7	Hungary
8	Montenegro
9	United States
10	Romania
11	Australia
12	China
13	Japan
14	Brazil
15	South Africa
16	Kazakhstan

References

1. "Qualification System – Games of the XXXIII Olympiad – Water Polo" (PDF). AQUA . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
2. "Paris 2024 – Water Polo Info". World Aquatics . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
3. Depasse, Guillaume (2 November 2022). "How to qualify for water polo at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained". International Olympic Committee . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
4. "Vis la Paris – Uluitor cum au primit tricolorii vestea că vor juca la Jocurile Olimpice! Prioteasa: "N-am știut nimic"". eurosport.ro. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
5. "World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023-Final Standings". worldaquatics.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
6. "2024 Men's European Water Polo Championship-Final Standings". len.microplustimingservices.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
7. "World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024-Final Standings". worldaquatics.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.