Men

Italy have won four world titles in the men's tournament, including the most recent edition in 2019. No team has defended the men's world title since Spain were victorious in 1998 and 2001.

Italy are one of four ever-presents in the men's tournament at the world aquatics championships, alongside Australia, Hungary and United States. All four countries will make their 19th appearance out of 19 in Budapest.

The only country to finish on the podium in the men's tournament at each of the last seven world aquatics championships is Croatia. That run includes winning the world title in 2007 and 2017 (in Budapest).

Hungary can become the second host nation to win the men's tournament at the world aquatics championships, after Italy in 1994 in Rome. The only hosts to finish as runners-up were the Hungarians in 2017 in Budapest.

Serbia won a gold medal in men's water polo at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, successfully defending their Olympic gold from 2016. The first men's world title after an Olympic Games has not been won by the Olympic champions since Spain claimed victory in 1998.

A non-European team has never finished on the podium in the men's tournament at the world aquatics championships. The best performance was fourth by Cuba (1975), United States (1986, 1991, 2009) and Australia (1998).

Georgia competes in water polo at the world aquatics championships for the first time. The men's team has qualified for the 2022 edition in Budapest.

Women

United States have won three consecutive world titles in women's water polo (2015, 2017, 2019) and three successive Olympic gold medals in the sport (2012, 2016, 2020).

United States (6) is one of three countries to have won multiple world titles in women's water polo, alongside Italy (2) and Hungary (2).

The most recent world or Olympic title in women's water polo not won by United States was victory for Spain at the world aquatics championships in 2013 in Barcelona (the only women's world title won by the host nation).

Spain finished as runners-up to United States in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships in 2017 and 2019, and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Netherlands finished on the podium at each of the first four editions of the world aquatics championships women's water polo featured in (G1-S3-B0), but the Dutch have achieved this at only one of the 10 editions since (silver in 2015).

The five ever-presents in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships are Australia, Canada, Hungary, Netherlands and United States (all five make it 15 out of 15 in Budapest). The only one of those five not to have won the world title are Canada (runners-up in 1991 and 2009).

Argentina, Colombia and Thailand make their debuts in the women's tournament at the world aquatics championships. Of those three, only Thailand have not competed in the men's tournament.

General

The record for most medals in water polo at the world aquatics championships is held by Hungary (15, G5-S8-B2), but the record for most gold medals is shared by Italy and United States (both 6).

At the FINA World Championships, none of the 54 medals in men's water polo were won by non-European countries. In women's water polo this tally is 19 out of 42 (45%).

The 1,000th match in men's water polo at the world aquatics championships will be played at Budapest 2022. The tally currently stands at 958 and 48 matches are scheduled for this edition.

The biggest win and the most goals in a water polo match at the world aquatics championships was Hungary's 64-0 victory against Korea Republic in the preliminary round of the women's tournament in 2019.

The most played fixture in women's water polo at the world aquatics championships is Canada/Hungary (12). Both countries are in Group A of this year's tournament.

The player to win the most medals in water polo at the world aquatics championships is Andro Bušlje (CRO). He claimed seven medals from 2007 to 2019 (G2-S1-B4).