The draw threw out a few surprises with all groups having a credible third contender, with Brazil (Group A), Japan (B), Canada (C) and Australia (D) pushing their claims. The uncertainty of this Covid world, the earlier scheduling of the event and the transition from continental competition to the world stage will all be factors of how the first week transpires.

The opening day is fraught with disaster as three of the groups — A, B and D — could be decided on day one, going by recent form.

There is that other statistic from FINA Worlds — no non-European team has won a medal in the near 50-year history of the event.

For the first time in World Championship history, the competition is split between four cities — Budapest, Szeged, Debrecen and Sopron. Group A will play in Budapest, Group B in Debrecen, Group C in Sopron and Group D in Szeged. This is the same for men and women who will be playing on alternating days.

Two matches will be played each evening in the four venues for the group stage. The group winners will gain automatic access to the medal quarterfinals — to be staged in Budapest. Teams who finished second and third in their groups will play the crossovers in Budapest. Fourth-ranked teams will contest crossovers and classification 13-16 matches in Szeged. Crossover losers will travel to Szeged to contest their 9-12 classification rounds while the winners will play out their championship in Budapest.

Having Serbia play in Szeged, just north of the southern neighbour, means Serbian fans will not have far to travel to see their idols play in the group stage.

Here's how the men’s draw, made with the assistance of leading Hungarian water polo and swimming stars, plus FINA Technical Water Polo Committee Chairman Manuel Ibern, panned out:

GROUP A — BUDAPEST

HUNGARY

Here’s the team:  Hungary at home, in front of probably some of the largest crowds since Budapest 2017, will be a tough opponent. Hungary will play on Margaret Island for the opening rounds and presumably for the top-eight classifications. Silver medallist in 2017 and fourth in 2019, the new-look men will be hungry for gold. Tokyo added a bronze medal to Hungary’s collection.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: There will be no room for error as Hungary opens against Montenegro in what could be the group decider, then takes on a feisty Brazil before closing with Georgia. That first match will be highly anticipated and will make sure the stands are packed.

BRAZIL

Here’s the team: Brazil made sure of getting to Budapest 2022 with a third-place victory over Canada in a tightly fought Intercontinental Cup. Brazil was 13th at Gwangju 2019, one place down on Budapest 2017 and shy of its best performance at this level of 10th in 2015 Kazan.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Brazil has the luxury of possibly a win against Georgia before tackling Hungary and Montenegro in the following days. It’s a potent group, but third would put it in with a chance of going deep into the tournament.

MONTENEGRO

Here’s the team: Olympic Games Qualification Tournament winner early in 2021 and with so much promise after winning its third World League crown in Tbilisi, could not maintain the rage in Tokyo, losing out to world champion Italy by a penalty shootout in the classification for seventh. Its slump started with a 10-4 loss to Greece in the quarterfinals and a three-goal defeat by Croatia in the 5-8 semifinals.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Four places behind in Tokyo, Montenegro must hit the ground running in its first-up clash with Hungary before trying to head off Georgia and Brazil. There is class enough in the team to push hard when it comes to the second week.

GEORGIA

Here’s the team: Georgia has been making great strides in recent years and had a good debut with FINA in 2021, winning two group matches in the OGQT in Rotterdam and only lost by a goal to Greece and two to eventual winner Montenegro. It fell to Croatia and eventually beat Canada for seventh. Hosting the 2021 World League Super Final, its sole win was over Japan, who finished fifth, and Georgia had to settle for eighth, losing to France 10-5.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Georgia needs to put all its eggs into the first-day basket against Brazil before even thinking of how to handle Montenegro and Hungary. Getting out of the fourth position is the main aim if it wants to finish top 12.

GROUP B — DEBRECEN

JAPAN

Here’s the team: What a fantastic performer in Tokyo in front of a home crowd/volunteers/officials. Japan has the speed, agility and outside shooting power that saw it lose by two goals to the USA, five goals to Hungary, one goal to Greece, thumped by Italy (8-16) and then smashed South Africa (24-9). However, missing the top eight meant no more play in Tokyo and we were denied seeing more of the individual brilliance. Japan’s main aim is to win the Asian Games in September and will need to gain huge experience at Budapest 2022.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Head coach Yoji Omoto will be hoping that first-day opponent Germany will yield and that Greece and Croatia will be close encounters. The signs are there for an upset, as seen in Tokyo.

GREECE

Here’s the team: Olympic silver medallist and just three goals from forcing Serbia into a shootout, Greece was the form team and played accordingly in Tokyo, toppling Montenegro and Hungary in the knockout phases. It was a big bump up from sixth at Rio 2016. At the most recent world championships, Greece finished seventh after placing fourth at Budapest 2017, so the signs are there for a breakthrough.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Greece will be out to beat Croatia first up before taking on Japan and Germany. Hitting its straps on the first day is not easy and all eyes will be on the encounter. Japan will not be a walkover while Greece should be too good for Germany.

GERMANY

Here’s the team: It was so good to see Germany back in the fold in Gwangju 2019 and a top-eight finish was most commendable. It proved to be the swansong for head coach Hagen Stamm while son Marko Stamm provided in-pool leadership. Germany missed the previous three editions after finishing eighth in Shanghai 2011. The last Olympic involvement was Beijing 2008, leaving in 10th position.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Germany gets few chances at this level and will be out to impress, taking on mercurial Japan in the first match and then having to adjust to “normal” water polo to play Croatia and then Greece to see if it can lift into the top 12.

CROATIA

Here’s the team: Croatia finished outside the medals in Tokyo, beating the USA for fifth place after losing its quarterfinal with Hungary 15-11. It famously grabbed the final berth for Tokyo with third place at the Olympic Games Qualification Tournament. Its record at World Championships is impressive with two gold, one silver and five bronze medals, including one in 2019 when it beat Hungary. The two met in Budapest two years previously with Croatia claiming the gold to deny Hungary a fourth crown.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Greece on the first day is something Croatia can cope with; despite the fact it could decide the group. Managing a match of this magnitude is nothing new for this former champion and subsequent Germany and Japan clashes should produce victories.

GROUP C — SOPRON

ITALY

Here’s the team: The defending champion beat Hungary in the semifinals before running away with the title against Spain 10-5 in the final in Gwangju. Italy tumbled badly at Tokyo 2020, finishing seventh in a penalty shootout over Montenegro and is ranked fifth in the World League European Qualifications.  

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: On paper, Italy and Spain should battle out top spot-on day three of the competition after Italy faces South Africa and Canada in the lead-up. Tokyo was not good, but with the national junior team claiming silver at last year’s worlds, there is plenty of talent at Alessandro Campagna’s disposal.

CANADA

Here’s the team: Canada made its intentions clear for the year with sound matches at the Intercontinental Cup. A non-qualifier for Tokyo 2020, Canada bided its time and lost by a single goal to the USA, beat Australia by a goal, nudged Argentina by a goal and downed Brazil by, you guessed it, a single goal. It lost by a goal to the USA in the semifinals and could not keep up the luck, going down to Brazil 11-8 for bronze.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: That form will be invaluable as Canada faces Spain on day one, Italy on day two and South Africa on day three. The big matches on the first two days will be critical to how it plays in the post-group matches of the competition.

SOUTH AFRICA

Here’s the team: A perennial bottom-tier team and frequent African qualifier, South Africa performed creditably in 2019, finishing 12th, evading the bottom-four classifications. It equalled its best performance previously of 12th in Kazan 2015. Covid has seen the team stay at home and that lack of international competition will have a marked effect on the team.

How the team is placed at the FINA World Championships: There is nothing bright on this horizon, although getting Italy and Spain out of the road before a possible sniff of victory against Canada could be regarded as a good draw. It all depends on what build-up the African qualifier has had.

SPAIN

Here’s the team: The silver medallist from Gwangju 2019, Spain looked a likely gold medallist in Tokyo 2020 but fell off badly when it counted, losing by a goal to Serbia in the semifinals and by a tragic four goals in the bronze-medal clash with Hungary. Despite that showing, Spain should bounce back and once again make a play, possibly attempting to equal the glory years of 1998 and 2001, when it last captured the gold medals.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Canada and South Africa on the opening days bode well for the Spaniards before what should be the fourth quarterfinalist is found when it takes on world champion Italy, a real treat for fans on the final group night.

GROUP D — SZEGED

KAZAKHSTAN

Here’s the team: Getting older by the minute, but still performing at a high level. Sixth at the World League in 2021 and 11th in Tokyo, Kazakhstan was 14th in Gwangju 2019, so badly needs an injection of youth to re-establish the team that has been so forceful at Asian Games level and will be out to win gold there in September in Hangzhou, China. Japan, one placing higher in Tokyo, will be its main threat.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: Australia in the opener will be a genuine test after their 15-7 loss to the Aussie Sharks in Tokyo in what was both teams’ final match. Then, the USA looms before taking on the might of Serbia. Any chance will be the hope of finding Australia out of form on day one.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Here’s the team:  With an under-strength line-up, the USA beat off Australia for the World League Intercontinental Cup title in March, following on from an excellent sixth placing in Tokyo 2020. Reunite leading players from European teams and USA will shape up as a team that performed so well in 2021, including silver behind Montenegro at the Tbilisi World League Super Final.

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: The Americans lost to and beat Australia in Peru, so their third-day clash will be eagerly anticipated. Playing Serbia on day one will be mind-blowing, while day two offers some respite against Kazakhstan. On its day, the USA can beat anyone, so watch this space.

AUSTRALIA

Here’s the team: The Aussie Sharks came out of hibernation to contest the Intercontinental Cup in Peru in March, claiming the silver behind the USA after winning the round-robin match-up. Finished a disappointing ninth in Tokyo after some promising performances, including a three-goal win over Croatia. Best-placed finish at a World Championship was fourth at Perth 1998, losing to Yugoslavia. 

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: First up against Kazakhstan will be a welcome test and facing the new-look Serbia on day two could be more than interesting. But it will come down to the USA encounter to round out the group positioning for better or worse.

SERBIA

Here’s the team: Serbia last won this crown in 2015 and 2009 before that. That’s World Championships. Last year it was Olympic gold, a magnificent backing up from Rio 2016. In 2019, Serbia won the World League, its 10th win since becoming an independent nation. Half the team retired after Tokyo, but Serbia never fronts with a weak side. Add the fact that its junior team won the world crown last year and there is plenty of depth for head coach Dejan Savic. 

How the team is placed at FINA World Championships: No matter who plays for Serbia, the badge of honour is there, and history says that USA and Australia in the first two days will be no match before trampling Kazakhstan. That’s what history says, but will it happen?

The Women's Water Polo Tournament event preview is coming tomorrow, so watch this space!

*Event previews are entirely subjective and all comments are purely those of the author.