Italy

Italy has won the men's tournament at the world aquatics championships on four occasions (1978, 1994, 2011, 2019).

Italy defeated Spain 10-5 in the men's final at the world aquatics championships in 2019. No team has successfully defended the men's world title since Spain were victorious in 1998 and 2001.

Italy failed to reach the podium in all three appearances at the FINA World Championships as defending champions: ninth in 1982, fifth in 1998 and fourth in 2013.

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.

Italy (127) hold the record for most matches played in the men's tournament at the world aquatics championships (Australia follow on 125).


Serbia

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.

Serbia won the men's tournament at the FINA World Championships in 2009 and 2015. This competition has also been won by Yugoslavia (1986, 1991) and Serbia and Montenegro (2005).

Since their first appearance as Serbia at the world aquatics championships in 2007, only Croatia (9, G3-S2-B4) have claimed as many medals in the men's tournament at the world aquatics championships and Olympic Games combined as the Serbians (8, G4-S1-B3).

Serbia (since 2007) have lost eight of their 44 matches at the world aquatics championships. Exactly 50% of those defeats were against Spain (4 of 8).


Other contenders

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 Budapest in 2017.

Spain were runners-up in the men's tournament at the world aquatics championships in 2019. The worst performance by the Spanish in their last 14 appearances at this competition was ninth in 2017 in Budapest (did not qualify in 2015).

Greece won a silver medal in the men's tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, losing 13-10 against Serbia in the final. The Greeks have a best finish of third at the world aquatics championships (2005 and 2015).

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 Georgians are the only debutants in the men's tournament.