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

The men's water polo tournament at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships was held from 17 to 29 July 2023. This was the 20th time that the men's water polo tournament has been played since the first edition in 1973.[1]

Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament
Tournament details
Host country Japan
Venue(s)Marine Messe, Fukuoka
Dates17–29 July
Teams16 (from 5 confederations)
Final positions
Champions Hungary (4th title)
Runner-up Greece
Third place Spain
Fourth place Serbia
Tournament statistics
Matches played48
Goals scored1,177 (24.52 per match)
Top scorer(s)Serbia Strahinja Rašović
(25 goals)
Best playerHungary Gergő Zalánki
Best goalkeeperGreece Emmanouil Zerdevas
Next →

Hungary claimed their fourth title by defeating Greece in the final.[2]

Qualification

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EventDatesHostsQuotaQualifier(s)
Host nation1  Japan
2022 World League8 January – 27 July 2022 Strasbourg2  Italy
 United States
2022 World Championships21 June – 3 July 2022 Budapest4  Spain
 Greece
 Croatia
 Serbia
2022 European Championship29 August – 10 September 2022 Split3  Hungary
 France
 Montenegro
2022 Asian Championship7–14 November 2022 Samut Prakan2  China
 Kazakhstan
2023 Pan American Water Polo Championships3–8 April 2023 Bauru2  Canada
 Brazil
 Argentina
African Wildcard1  South Africa
Oceanian Wildcard1  Australia
Total16

Due the limited budget and the proximity of the date of the championship with the 2023 Pan American Games, Brazil opted for the withdrawal before the tournament and was replaced by Argentina.[3][4]


Draw

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The draw was held on 18 April 2023.[5]

Seeding

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The pots were announced on 12 April 2023.[6]

Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4
 Spain
 Greece
 Croatia
 Italy
 Serbia
 United States
 Canada
 Hungary
 Argentina
 Montenegro
 France
 Australia
 South Africa
 Japan
 China
 Kazakhstan

The draw resulted in the following groups:

Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D
 United States  China  Croatia  South Africa
 Australia  France  Hungary  Serbia
 Kazakhstan  Canada  Argentina  Montenegro
 Greece  Italy  Japan  Spain

Preliminary round

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All times are local (UTC+9).[7]

Group A

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PosTeamPldWPSWPSLLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Greece330004625+219Quarterfinals
2  United States320014828+206Playoffs
3  Australia310023935+43
4  Kazakhstan300031358−450
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.


17 July 2023
09:00
ReportKazakhstan  5–18  United StatesMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Chisato Kurosaki (JPN), David Gómez (ESP)
Score by quarters: 1–5, 4–4, 0–4, 0–5
Markovich 3GoalsAbramson 5
17 July 2023
10:30
ReportAustralia  9–13  GreeceMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Adrian-Tiberiu Alexandrescu (ROU), Veselin Mišković (MNE)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 1–3, 3–3, 3–5
Power 4GoalsArgyropoulos 3

19 July 2023
17:30
ReportGreece  18–2  KazakhstanMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Raffaele Colombo (ITA), Germán Moller (ARG)
Score by quarters: 6–1, 5–0, 4–1, 3–0
three players 3GoalsAkhmetov, Ruday 1
19 July 2023
20:30
ReportUnited States  16–8  AustraliaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Boris Margeta (SLO), Vojin Putniković (SRB)
Score by quarters: 3–4, 3–2, 4–1, 6–1
Daube 5GoalsPavillard, Power 3

21 July 2023
13:30
ReportUnited States  14–15  GreeceMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Boris Margeta (SLO), Frank Ohme (GER)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 6–1, 2–4, 3–7
Irving 6GoalsGenidounias, Papanastasiou 4
21 July 2023
16:00
ReportAustralia  22–6  KazakhstanMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Tamás Kovács-Csatlós (HUN), David Gómez (ESP)
Score by quarters: 7–2, 3–0, 4–2, 8–2
Negus, Poot 4GoalsArtyukh 2

Group B

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PosTeamPldWPSWPSLLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Italy330005517+389Quarterfinals
2  France320013832+66Playoffs
3  Canada310023049−193
4  China300032348−250
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.


17 July 2023
12:00
ReportCanada  13–10  ChinaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Tamás Kovács-Csatlós (HUN), Nenad Peris (CRO)
Score by quarters: 4–0, 3–6, 4–4, 2–0
Constantin-Bicari, Gardijan 3GoalsPeng 4
17 July 2023
13:30
ReportFrance  6–13  ItalyMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Vojin Putniković (SRB), Michiel Zwartt (NED)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 2–3, 0–3, 1–5
Crousillat, Khasz 2GoalsFondelli 4

19 July 2023
09:00
ReportItaly  24–6  CanadaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Tamás Kovács-Csatlós (HUN), David Gómez (ESP)
Score by quarters: 6–0, 4–2, 8–4, 6–0
three players 4GoalsConstantin-Bicari 3
19 July 2023
10:30
ReportChina  8–17  FranceMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Michiel Zwartt (NED), Veselin Mišković (MNE)
Score by quarters: 1–4, 4–6, 0–4, 3–3
Chen R., Xie 2GoalsMarzouki 4

21 July 2023
17:30
ReportChina  5–18  ItalyMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Veselin Mišković (MNE), Germán Moller (ARG)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 1–7, 2–6, 0–3
Chen Z. 2GoalsCondemi, Di Fulvio 4
21 July 2023
20:30
ReportFrance  15–11  CanadaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Nenad Peris (CRO), Vojin Putniković (SRB)
Score by quarters: 5–4, 5–3, 3–2, 2–2
three players 3Goalsthree players 3

Group C

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PosTeamPldWPSWPSLLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Hungary330004931+189Quarterfinals
2  Croatia320015129+226Playoffs
3  Japan (H)310024042−23
4  Argentina300032765−380
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


17 July 2023
16:00
ReportArgentina  5–24  CroatiaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
David Couper (NZL), Jennifer McCall (USA)
Score by quarters: 2–8, 1–4, 0–7, 2–5
five players 1GoalsMarinić Kragić 5
17 July 2023
19:00
ReportHungary  16–8  JapanMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Zhang Liang (CHN), Nicola Johnson (AUS)
Score by quarters: 4–4, 3–2, 3–1, 6–1
Jansik, Zalánki 4GoalsSuzuki, Takata 2

19 July 2023
12:00
ReportCroatia  10–12  HungaryMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Adrian-Tiberiu Alexandrescu (ROU), Frank Ohme (GER)
Score by quarters: 1–3, 2–2, 3–3, 4–4
three players 2GoalsZalánki 3
19 July 2023
19:00
ReportJapan  20–9  ArgentinaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Zhang Liang (CHN), Darren Spiritsanto (USA)
Score by quarters: 6–1, 4–2, 4–2, 6–4
Watanabe 5GoalsMartino 3

21 July 2023
09:00
ReportHungary  21–13  ArgentinaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Zhang Liang (CHN), Alessia Ferrari (ITA)
Score by quarters: 7–1, 5–4, 4–4, 5–4
Vigvári 4GoalsCamnasio, Corsi 3
21 July 2023
19:00
ReportCroatia  17–12  JapanMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Michiel Zwartt (NED)
Score by quarters: 4–3, 3–3, 8–3, 2–3
Kharkov 4GoalsAdachi 4

Group D

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PosTeamPldWPSWPSLLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Spain330005427+279Quarterfinals
2  Serbia311015734+235Playoffs
3  Montenegro310115534+214
4  South Africa300032192−710
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.


17 July 2023
17:30
ReportMontenegro  35–10  South AfricaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Sebastien Dervieux (FRA), Georgios Stavridis (GRE)
Score by quarters: 6–1, 10–0, 9–5, 10–4
Radović 7Goalsfour players 2
17 July 2023
20:30
ReportSerbia  14–16  SpainMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Boris Margeta (SLO), Raffaele Colombo (ITA)
Score by quarters: 2–3, 3–5, 5–5, 4–3
Rašović 6GoalsGranados 5

19 July 2023
13:30
ReportSpain  11–7  MontenegroMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Sebastien Dervieux (FRA)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 3–2, 4–2, 2–1
Perrone 5GoalsĐurđić 2
19 July 2023
16:00
ReportSouth Africa  5–30  SerbiaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
David Couper (NZL), Chisato Kurosaki (JPN)
Score by quarters: 1–8, 1–9, 1–7, 2–6
Laurenson 2GoalsJakšić, Rašović 6

21 July 2023
10:30
ReportSouth Africa  6–27  SpainMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Sebastien Dervieux (FRA), Natalia Markopoulou (GRE)
Score by quarters: 2–8, 2–7, 2–8, 0–4
Badenhorst 2GoalsValera 5
21 July 2023
12:00
ReportSerbia  17–15  MontenegroMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Adrian-Tiberiu Alexandrescu (ROU), Darren Spiritsanto (USA)
Score by quarters: 3–6, 4–2, 2–3, 4–2  PSO: 4–2
Vučinić 5GoalsMatković 3

Knockout stage

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Bracket

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Championship bracket
 
PlayoffsQuarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
 
 
 
25 July
 
 
 Greece10
 
23 July
 
 Montenegro9
 
 Croatia12
 
27 July
 
 Montenegro13
 
 Greece13
 
 
 Serbia7
 
 
25 July
 
 
 Italy11 (3)
 
23 July
 
 Serbia (PSO)11 (4)
 
 Japan10
 
29 July
 
 Serbia16
 
 Greece10 (3)
 
 
 Hungary (PSO)10 (4)
 
 
25 July
 
 
 Hungary13
 
23 July
 
 United States12
 
 United States13
 
27 July
 
 Canada10
 
 Hungary12
 
 
 Spain11Third place
 
 
25 July29 July
 
 
 Spain7  Serbia6
 
23 July
 
 France6  Spain9
 
 Australia8
 
 
 France11
 
5th place bracket
 
5th–8th place semifinalsFifth place game
 
      
 
27 July
 
 
 Montenegro6
 
29 July
 
 Italy10
 
 Italy16
 
27 July
 
 France9
 
 United States13 (3)
 
 
 France (PSO)13 (5)
 
Seventh place game
 
 
29 July
 
 
 Montenegro12 (3)
 
 
 United States (PSO)12 (5)
9th place bracket
 
9th–12th place semifinalsNinth place game
 
      
 
25 July
 
 
 Canada5
 
27 July
 
 Croatia13
 
 Croatia17
 
25 July
 
 Australia10
 
 Australia16
 
 
 Japan15
 
Eleventh place game
 
 
27 July
 
 
 Canada11
 
 
 Japan23
13th place bracket
 
13th–16th place semifinals13th place game
 
      
 
23 July
 
 
 Kazakhstan12
 
25 July
 
 China5
 
 Kazakhstan7
 
23 July
 
 Argentina11
 
 Argentina15
 
 
 South Africa6
 
15th place game
 
 
25 July
 
 
 China16
 
 
 South Africa8

Playoffs

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23 July 2023
14:00
ReportUnited States  13–10  CanadaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Sebastien Dervieux (FRA), David Gómez (ESP)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 3–4, 2–1, 5–4
Daube 7GoalsConstantin-Bicari 4

23 July 2023
15:30
ReportAustralia  8–11  FranceMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Adrian-Tiberiu Alexandrescu (ROU), Darren Spiritsanto (USA)
Score by quarters: 0–4, 5–2, 2–4, 1–1
Negus, Pavillard 2GoalsVernoux 4

23 July 2023
17:00
ReportCroatia  12–13  MontenegroMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Boris Margeta (SLO), Michiel Zwartt (NED)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 0–3, 5–4, 4–4
Marinić Kragić 4GoalsMatković, Radović 4

23 July 2023
18:30
ReportJapan  10–16  SerbiaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Tamás Kovács-Csatlós (HUN), Veselin Mišković (MNE)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–3, 2–7, 3–3
Inaba 4GoalsRadulović, Rašović 3

Quarterfinals

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25 July 2023
15:00
ReportGreece  10–9  MontenegroMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Boris Margeta (SLO), Tamás Kovács-Csatlós (HUN)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 4–3, 1–3, 3–2
Genidounias 5GoalsRadović 3

25 July 2023
16:30
ReportItaly  14–15  SerbiaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Michiel Zwartt (NED), Frank Ohme (GER)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–2, 4–4, 2–2  PSO: 3–4
Di Fulvio 3GoalsRašović 4

25 July 2023
18:00
ReportHungary  13–12  United StatesMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Adrian-Tiberiu Alexandrescu (ROU), Vojin Putniković (SRB)
Score by quarters: 4–4, 3–1, 3–2, 3–5
Zalánki 6GoalsBowen 4

25 July 2023
19:30
ReportSpain  7–6  FranceMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Raffaele Colombo (ITA)
Score by quarters: 1–2, 1–2, 2–1, 3–1
Tahull 2GoalsBouet, Crousillat 2

13–16th place semifinals

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23 July 2023
09:00
ReportKazakhstan  12–5  ChinaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Chisato Kurosaki (JPN), Vojin Putniković (SRB)
Score by quarters: 1–1, 4–0, 3–1, 4–3
Markovich 4GoalsXie Z. 3

23 July 2023
10:30
ReportArgentina  15–6  South AfricaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Nóra Debreceni (HUN), David Couper (NZL)
Score by quarters: 3–0, 4–2, 5–1, 3–3
Camnasio 4GoalsWheeler 2

9–12th place semifinals

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25 July 2023
12:00
ReportCanada  5–13  CroatiaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Veselin Mišković (MNE), Zhang Liang (CHN)
Score by quarters: 2–3, 1–3, 1–5, 1–2
five players 1GoalsButić, Lazić 3

25 July 2023
13:30
ReportAustralia  16–15  JapanMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
David Gómez (ESP), Darren Spiritsanto (USA)
Score by quarters: 5–3, 4–7, 4–3, 3–2
Pavillard 4GoalsAdachi, Takata 4

5–8th place semifinals

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27 July 2023
14:00
ReportMontenegro  6–10  ItalyMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Adrian-Tiberiu Alexandrescu (ROU), Tamás Kovács-Csatlós (HUN)
Score by quarters: 1–1, 1–3, 2–3, 2–3
Perković 3GoalsDamonte 3

27 July 2023
15:30
ReportUnited States  16–18  FranceMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Michiel Zwartt (NED), David Gómez (ESP)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 3–3, 5–4, 2–5  PSO: 3–5
Bowen 5GoalsCrousillat, Vernoux 3

Semifinals

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27 July 2023
17:00
ReportGreece  13–7  SerbiaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Nenad Peris (CRO), Raffaele Colombo (ITA)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 3–0, 3–3, 4–2
Argyropoulos, Kakaris 3GoalsJakšić, Rašović 2

27 July 2023
18:30
ReportHungary  12–11  SpainMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Boris Margeta (SLO), Frank Ohme (GER)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 1–3, 3–2, 5–3
Manhercz 3Goalsthree players 2

15th place game

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25 July 2023
09:00
ReportChina  16–8  South AfricaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Germán Moller (ARG), Hélène Painchaud (CAN)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 4–2, 4–1, 5–3
Chen Z. 7GoalsBadenhorst, Howard 2

13th place game

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25 July 2023
10:30
ReportKazakhstan  7–11  ArgentinaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Marta Cabanas (ESP), Lee-Anne Stewart (RSA)
Score by quarters: 1–5, 1–1, 3–3, 2–2
Markovich, Vuksanovich 2GoalsCorsi 4

Eleventh place game

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27 July 2023
09:00
ReportCanada  11–23  JapanMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Vojin Putniković (SRB), Darren Spiritosanto (USA)
Score by quarters: 3–6, 3–6, 2–8, 3–3
Djerkovic 3GoalsInaba 5

Ninth place game

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27 July 2023
10:30
ReportCroatia  17–10  AustraliaMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Georgios Stavridis (GRE), Veselin Mišković (MNE)
Score by quarters: 3–2, 5–4, 6–2, 3–2
Vukičević 5GoalsPoot 3

Seventh place game

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29 July 2023
11:30
ReportMontenegro  15–17  United StatesMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Matan Schwartz (ISR), Zhang Liang (CHN)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 4–4, 3–3, 2–2  PSO: 3–5
three players 2GoalsHallock 4

Fifth place game

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29 July 2023
16:30
ReportItaly  16–9  FranceMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Tamás Kovács-Csatlós (HUN), Veselin Mišković (MNE)
Score by quarters: 1–2, 3–2, 7–3, 5–2
Di Fulvio 5GoalsCrousillat 3

Third place game

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29 July 2023
13:00
ReportSerbia  6–9  SpainMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Frank Ohme (GER), Raffaele Colombo (ITA)
Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–3, 0–2, 1–1
Rašović 3GoalsGranados 3

Final

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29 July 2023
18:00
ReportGreece  13–14  HungaryMarine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Referees:
Michiel Zwartt (NED), Vojin Putniković (SRB)
Score by quarters: 2–4, 2–1, 3–2, 3–3  PSO: 3–4
Genidounias 4GoalsManhercz, Zalánki 3

Final ranking

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Statistics and awards

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Top goalscorers

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RankNameGoals[9]Shots%
1 Strahinja Rašović254556
2 Hannes Daube224846
3 Nikola Jakšić204347
4 Gergő Zalánki193653
5 Konstantinos Genidounias183946
Đuro Radović3551
7 Francesco Di Fulvio173450
Yusuke Inaba4538
9 Ugo Crousillat163447
Taiyo Watanabe3348

Awards

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The awards were announced on 29 July 2023.[2]

All-star team
Goalkeeper Emmanouil Zerdevas
Field player Hannes Daube
Krisztián Manhercz
Alexandros Papanastasiou
Felipe Perrone
Strahinja Rašović
Gergő Zalánki
Other awards
MVP Gergő Zalánki
Best goalkeeper Emmanouil Zerdevas

References

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  1. ^ "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Hungary overcomes Greece in sudden-death shootout". worldaquatics.com. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Two vacancies at World Championships: Brazilian teams don't arrive in Fukuoka". total-waterpolo.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Argentina In – World Aquatics Championships will now feature Argentina in the Men's and Women's Water Polo Tournaments". worldaquatics.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Draw for World Championships in Fukuoka: Two reigning champions in "Group of death"". total-waterpolo.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  6. ^ "The field is now set – Qualified teams for the Men's and Women's Water Polo Tournament for Fukuoka". worldaquatics.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  7. ^ "World Championships, schedule: Spain's ladies and men feature in opening day's derbies". total-waterpolo.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  8. ^ "World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023-Final Standings". worldaquatics.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  9. ^ Top scorers
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