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

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

The remainder of the total quota will be attributed to the eligible NOCs through a tripartite qualification pathway. First, the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, scheduled for 16 to 29 July in Fukuoka, Japan, will produce the winners and runners-up of the men's water polo tournament qualifying for Paris 2024. Five more quota places will be 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 does not occur within the qualifying period, the vacant spot will be 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 will be 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	16–29 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
2024 World Aquatics Championships	2–18 February 2024	Doha	4
2024 World Aquatics Championships – Africa			1	South Africa
2024 World Aquatics Championships – Oceania			1	Australia
Total			12

2023 World Championships

Main article: 2023 World Aquatics Championships

The winner and the runner-up of the men's water polo tournament at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan will obtain 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	61	36	+25	5	Playoffs
3	Montenegro	3	1	0	1	1	57	38	+19	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^[4]	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) will secure a quota place for Paris 2024. If any of the continental qualifying tournaments does not occur within the qualifying period, the vacant spot will be 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	OTW	OTL	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	OTW	OTL	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	Montenegro	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
4	Croatia (H)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 4 January 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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	Georgia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	Hungary	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Italy	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
4	Greece	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 4 January 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
2	Germany	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Israel	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Classification round
4	Malta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 5 January 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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	Slovakia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
2	Netherlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Slovenia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Classification round
4	Romania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: 5 January 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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

A1

11 January

B4

14 January

D1

12 January

B2

10 January

A3

16 January

C2

12 January

B1

10 January

A4

14 January

C1

Third place

12 January

16 January

A2

11 January

B3

D2

Final standing

Rank	Team
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Americas

Main article: Water polo at the 2023 Pan American Games

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 of the men's water polo tournament at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar will obtain a ticket for Paris 2024.^[3]

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	South Africa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
3	Europe 1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13–16th place semifinals

First match(es) will be played: 5 February 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	Brazil	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
3	China	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	France	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13–16th place semifinals

First match(es) will be played: 5 February 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	Europe 2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
3	Japan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	United States	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13–16th place semifinals

First match(es) will be played: 5 February 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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	Kazakhstan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Quarterfinals
2	Europe 3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Playoffs
3	Italy	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Hungary	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13–16th place semifinals

First match(es) will be played: 5 February 2024. Source:^{[citation needed]}
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

A1

11 February

C2

15 February

D3

13 February

B1

11 February

C3

17 February

D2

13 February

C1

11 February

A2

15 February

B3

Third place

13 February

17 February

D1

11 February

A3

B2

5th place bracket

	5th–8th place semifinals				Fifth place game
	15 February
					17 February
	15 February
					Seventh place game
					17 February

9th place bracket

	9th–12th place semifinals				Ninth place game
	13 February
					15 February
	13 February
					Eleventh place game
					15 February

13th place bracket

	13th–16th place semifinals				13th place game
	11 February
					13 February
	11 February
					15th place game
					13 February

Final standing

Rank	Team
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

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. "World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023-Final Standings". worldaquatics.com. from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.