The men’s water polo competition at the World Championships in Doha starts tomorrow, with two big favorites for the throne – reigning world and European champions.
Hungary, the first male water polo team ever that has to defend its world champion title just six months after winning it, returns to the stage with eight aces who missed the European Championships in Croatia.
Spain is showcasing almost the same winning lineup from the European Championship.
Four Olympic berths are at stake in Doha. Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, and Serbia are the favorites for earning Olympic tickets.
But each of the four teams has higher ambitions than just qualifying for the Paris Games.
Greece, the USA, and maybe France also belong to the circle of teams considered the contenders for the spots in the semifinals. Such a long list of strong teams that aim to win medals and (or) Olympic tickets promises intense battles.
Eight participating teams haven’t qualified for the Olympic Games yet. In addition to the four mentioned European powerhouses, these are Romania, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and China.
21st World Water Polo Championship (Doha, February 5 – 17), Men, Preview
Group A
Spain
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 20.
Debuted in 1973.Fukuoka 2023: bronze.
Best results: gold (1998, 2001, 2022), sliver (1991, 1994, 2009, 2019), bronze (2007, 2023).
Croatia
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 15.
Debuted in 1994 (as a part of Yugoslavia in 1973), Fukuoka 2023: 9th place
Best results: gold (2007, 2017), silver (2015), bronze (2009, 2011, 2013, 2019), 4th place (1994, 2005, 2022).
As a part of Yugoslavia (until 1991), Croatia won two gold and two bronze medals.
Australia
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 21.
Debuted in 1973. Fukuoka 2023: 10th place.
Best result: 4th place (1998).
South Africa
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 13.
Debuted in 1994. Fukuoka 2023: 16th place.
Best results: 12th place (2015, 2019, 2022)
The two finalists of the European Championships, Spain and Croatia, are the frontrunners in Group A. Croatia beat Spain in a penalty shootout on the opening day of the European Championships. Still, Spain recorded an 11:10 victory in the final match after a great comeback, winning the gold medal and securing the only Olympic berth available at the continental championships. Spain arrives in Doha with a strong squad of many superstars, even stronger than it was at the Europeans, due to defender Martin Famera’s recovery from an injury.
Felipe Perrone (ESP) and Konstantin Kharkov (CRO) Photo by Istvan Derencsenyi/European Aquatics
Croatia, on the other hand, had an unsuccessful 2023 season (finished in 9th place in Fukuoka and failed to qualify for the World Cup Superfinal) but bounced back with the European silver medal in front of the home crowd. However, the team wasn’t very happy as they lost the gold medal and the Olympic ticket in the dying seconds of the final. If the Croats take revenge for the defeat in the final in Zagreb and win 1st place in Group A, they will achieve their primary goal in Doha already after the group stage. A spot in the quarterfinals almost guarantees an Olympic berth.
12 Felipe Perrone will play at the World Championships for the 12th time.
Australia and South Africa, unlike the remaining 14 participating teams, haven’t played in official competitions since the Fukuoka World Championships. While it’s hard to expect that Australia can beat the two favorites from Europe, surprises are possible, especially at the start of the tournament. At the same time, it’s hard to expect that South Africa can beat Australia.
Group B
Greece
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 18.
Debuted in 1973. Fukuoka 2023: silver medal.
Best results: silver (2023), bronze (2005, 2015, 2022), 4th place (2003, 2017)
France
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 6.
Debuted in 1982. Fukuoka 2023: 6th place.
Best result: 6th place (2023).
Brazil
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 11.
Debuted in 1986.Fukuoka 2023: Withdrew.
Best result: 10th place (2015).
China
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 11.
Debuted in 1982. Fukuoka 2023: 15th place
Best result: 10th place (1982)
Greece, the silver medalist in Fukuoka, faced a failure in Zagreb this January, landing in 5th place. While that wasn’t a disastrous outcome, the team’s performances at the European Championships didn’t meet expectations; they were far from Greece’s true potential. Doha now serves as an opportunity for a make-up exam, and the Greeks are considered strong favorites to claim the top spot.
Konstantinos Genidounias (Greece) Photo by Albert ten Hove/Orange Pictures
France, a rising water polo nation, is not in the category of the big favorites, unlike Greece. However, the French possess a quality that allows them to harbor dreams of surprises. The French are a respectable opponent. Last year, they achieved their best-ever result at the World Championships in history, by winning 6th place.
The two non-European teams in Group B, Brazil and China, have the same primary goal – to secure 3rd place, thereby advancing to the cross-over round and maintaining a slim chance of Olympic qualification.
Since 1973, the male water polo tournament at the World Championships has featured 16 teams.
However, the 1986 Championship held in Madrid was an exception, with 15 teams participating. Sixteen teams qualified – the 12 that participated in the 1984 Olympic Games and four continental champions or the best non-qualified team from four continents (Europe, America, Asia, and Africa).
But China and Japan, both of which had participated in the 1984 Olympic Games, and Egypt, which was the African champion, withdrew from the tournament. Hungary and France were chosen to replace China and Japan, while none of the African teams stepped in to fill the vacancy left by Egypt.
Interestingly, Hungary, a regular participant in the tournament, did not qualify for the 1986 edition. Like many other Eastern Bloc countries, Hungary boycotted the 1984 Olympic Games and finished 5th at the 1985 European Championships. Nonetheless, after the withdrawals mentioned above, Hungary was invited to compete in Madrid and maintained its tournament participation streak.
Group C
Serbia
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 10.
Debuted in 2007 (as a part of Yugoslavia in 1973),Fukuoka 2023: 4th place
Best results: gold (2009, 2015), silver (2011), bronze (2017), 4th place (2007, 2023).
As a part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro (until 2005), Serbia won three gold,one silver and four bronze medals.
USA
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 21.
Debuted in 1973.Fukuoka 2023: 7th place.
Best result: 4th place (1986, 1991, 2009).
Montenegro
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 9.
Debuted in 2009 (as a part of Yugoslavia in 1973).Fukuoka 2023 8th place
Best result: silver (2013)
As a part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro (until 2005), Serbia won three gold,one silver and four bronze medals.
Japan
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 11.
Debuted in 2001.Fukuoka 2023: 11th place
Best result: 9th place (2022)
This group stands out as the most evenly matched in the initial phase, featuring two teams yet to secure spots in the Olympic Games, both of which have realistic chances of earning those berths (Serbia and Montenegro).
The teams of Serbia, Montenegro, and the USA are at similar levels of quality, making it challenging to predict the group winner. While each team possesses considerable potential, they have experienced ups and downs in performance over the past few years.
On paper, Olympic champion Serbia emerges as the favorite in this group. It secured 4th place in Fukuoka last year without Dusan Mandic. His return strengthens the team. However, Mandic is one of only six players who clinched gold in Tokyo and are still on the team (along with B.Mitrovic, S.Rasovic, Jaksic, Randjelovic and Lazic). The Serbs are still struggling with the inevitable troubles after a significant rejuvenation of the team.
Serbia’s Sava Randjelovic (R) and Hannes Daube (USA) Photo by: S.Sandic/Water Polo Federation of Serbia
Montenegro and the USA have long awaited a breakthrough beyond the quarterfinals at the World Championships, with the USA last achieving this feat in 2009 (4th place) and Montenegro since their silver-winning performance in 2013. Recent World Championships placements do not reflect Montenegro’s and the USA’s true capabilities.
We witness three contenders vying for the top spot, while the fourth participant, Japan, stands as the best team drawn from the fourth pot. Japan has developed significantly in the past seven to eight years and nobody considers it an underdog. Despite never qualifying for the quarterfinals at the World Championships, Japan poses challenges to favorites with its unique style of play. The Asian champions have consistently reached the crossover rounds in the last four editions, achieving their best result with a 9th-place finish in Budapest in 2022.
Group D
Hungary
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 21.
Debuted in 1973. Fukuoka 2023: gold medal.
Best results: gold (1973, 2003, 2013, 2023), silver (1975, 1978, 1982, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2017), bronze (1991), 4th place (2011, 2019)
Italy
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 21.
Debuted in 1973. Fukuoka 2023: 5th place.
Best results: gold (1978, 1994, 2011, 2019), silver (1986, 2003, 2022), bronze (1975), 4th place (1973,2001, 2013, 2015)
Romania
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 12.
Debuted in 1973. Fukuoka 2023: Didn’t qualify.
Best results: 5th place (1975)
Kazakhstan
World Championships appearances (including 2024): 12.
Debuted in 1994. Fukuoka 2023: 14th place
Best result: 11th place (1998, 2015, 2017)
*As a part of the USSR (until 1991), Kazakhstan won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
Following a strategic decision to rest key players during the European Championships, Hungary will try to defend its title with a team closely resembling the one that triumphed in Fukuoka, with 12 reigning world champions on the roster.
Their primary rival in Group C, Italy, also fields a roster brimming with superstars, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated clash on February 7, marking a highlight in the first week of the tournament.
Denes Varga will make his 10th World Championships apperaence Photo by Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo
The competition for the top spot is fierce between Hungary and Italy, while the battle for 3rd place appears more clearly defined.
Romania returns to the World Championships after a decade (13th place in Barcelona). Although their European Championship results indicate a gap from the top European nations, it also signals that they are on the right track.
Kazakhstan has struggled to secure victories against European teams in recent seasons. Last year, the Asian team suffered a substantial defeat by Romania, conceding a 14-goal margin (5:19) in the World Cup Division 2. Despite changes to their roster since then, Kazakhstan faces a hard mission to earn points in the group with three European squads.
For the full schedule and the results, visit Total Waterpolo’s 2024 Doha page.
Crossover round (February 11)– Match 1: 2A – 3B, Match 2: 3A – 2B, Match 3: 2C – 3D, Match 4: 3C – 2D
Quarterfinals (February 13) – QF1: 1A – winner Match 3, QF2: 1B – winner match 4, QF3: 1C – winner match 1, QF4: 1D – winner match 2
Semifinals (February 15): winners QF1 – QF2, winners QF3 – QF4.
Final Day (February 17)
All medal winners
1973 (Belgrade): 1. Hungary, 2. USSR, 3. Yugoslavia.
1975 (Cali): 1. USSR, 2. Hungary, 3. Italy.
1978 (West Berlin): 1. Italy, 2. Hungary, 3. Yugoslavia.
1982 (Guayaquil): 1. USSR, 2. Hungary, 3. FR Germany.
1986 (Madrid): 1. Yugoslavia, 2. Italy, 3. USSR.
1991 (Perth): 1. Yugoslavia, 2. Spain, 3. Hungary.
1994 (Rome): 1. Italy, 2. Spain, 3. Russia.
1998 (Perth): 1. Spain, 2. Hungary, 3. Yugoslavia.
2001 (Fukuoka): 1. Spain, 2. Yugoslavia, 3. Russia.
2003 (Barcelona): 1. Hungary, 2. Italy, 3. Serbia and Montenegro.
2005 (Montreal): 1. Serbia and Montenegro, 2. Hungary, 3. Greece.
2007 (Melbourne): 1. Croatia, 2. Hungary, 3. Spain.
2009 (Rome): 1. Serbia, 2. Spain, 3. Croatia.
2011 (Shanghai): 1. Italy, 2. Serbia, 3. Croatia.
2013 (Barcelona): 1. Hungary, 2. Montenegro, 3. Croatia.
2015 (Kazan): 1. Serbia, 2. Croatia, 3. Greece.
2017 (Budapest): 1. Croatia, 2. Hungary, 3. Serbia.
2019 (Gwangju): 1. Italy, 2. Spain, 3. Croatia.
2022 (Budapest): 1. Spain, 2. Italy, 3. Greece.
2023 (Fukuoka): 1. Hungary, 2. Greece, 3. Spain.
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