Women’s Olympic Water Polo Tournament

The Women’s Water Polo Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics will feature ten countries and 120 water polo players, plus one reserve player for each team roster. Each country’s respective National Olympic Committee and National Federation confirm the team player rosters.

The 6,000-seat Olympic Aquatics Centre will host the Preliminaries Phase matches from 27 July – 4 August. The tournament will continue at the Paris La Defense Arena for the Finals Phase from 5-11 August.

Netherlands | Group A

The Netherlands qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics by being the first-placed team at the World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023. The Netherlands have podiumed three times at the Olympic Games: bronze in Tokyo, gold in Beijing 2008,  bronze in London 2012.

Spain | Group B

Spain qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics as the second-placed team at the World Aquatics Championships – Fukuoka 2023. Spain clinched silver twice at the Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 and London 2012.

Australia | Group A

Australia qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the continental qualification positions for the continents of Oceania. Australia has won three Olympic women’s water polo medals: bronze at London 2012, bronze at Beijing 2008, and gold at Sydney 2000.

Greece | Group B

Greece qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the continental qualification position for the European continent. Greece has won one Olympic women’s water polo medal, earning silver at Athens 2004.

Hungary | Group A

Hungary and Italy qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics by the highest-ranked, not-yet-qualified country in the Women’s Water Polo Tournament at the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024. Hungary has won one Olympic women’s water polo medal, earning bronze at Tokyo 2020.

Italy | Group B

Italy qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics by being the second highest-ranked, not-yet-qualified country in the Women’s Water Polo Tournament at the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024.

People’s Republic of China | Group A

The People’s Republic of China qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the continental qualification positions for Asia. China has competed at three previous Olympic Games, finishing seventh in Rio 2016, fifth in London 2012, and fifth in Beijing 2008.

United States of America | Group B

The United States qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the continental qualification position for the Americas. The Team USA women’s water polo team comes into Paris 2024 seeking their record-extending fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Canada | Group A

As the highest-ranked country from the continent of Africa did not take their NOC quota position, Canada – the next highest-ranked country from the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 that had not yet qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics – earned this quota position. Canada’s highest finishes in Olympic women’s water polo play is fifth in Sydney 2000. Canada has also finished seventh at both Tokyo 2020 and Athens 2004.

Olympic History of Water Polo

Water polo is one of the oldest team sports in the modern-era Olympic Games programme. The Men’s Olympic Water Polo Tournament debuted at the Paris 1900 Olympics alongside another team sport: rugby. The first two water polo tournaments at the Olympic Games were played between clubs. From 1908 onwards, the Olympic water polo tournament has been between countries. At the Sydney 2000 Games, the Women’s Olympic Water Polo Tournament was added to the Olympic Games programme and has featured at every Summer Olympics since.

Australia won the first gold in women’s water polo, followed by Italy – the only country to win both the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Water Polo Tournaments. The Netherlands won at the Beijing 2008 Games, which has then been followed by a period of dominance from the Team USA women’s water polo team. After winning Olympic gold at the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, the USA women’s water polo team comes into Paris 2024 as the defending World and Olympic champions.

About the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Pathway for Water Polo

World Aquatics worked closely with the IOC Sports Department and the leadership of the World Aquatics Water Polo Technical Committee, and also consulted with its National Member Federations, to develop qualification principles for the water polo events at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Aquatics Olympics Qualification Principles for the Paris 2024 Games were published on 18 June 2022. For these principles, please refer to the following link: Aquatics Olympic Qualification System Principles.

Following the conclusion of the water polo tournaments for men and women at the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024, the Olympic qualification pathway for both genders for the water polo programme at the Paris 2024 Olympics was finalised.  World Aquatics published the qualified NOC announcement Water Polo at the Paris 2024 Olympics | Qualified NOC Quota Positions on 17 February 2024.

About World Aquatics 

Driven by the vision of a world united by water for health, life and sport, World Aquatics is the international governing body for aquatic sports. Founded in 1908, World Aquatics is an independent organisation of 210 National Federations and five Continental Organisations.  

World Aquatics oversees six aquatic sports – swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving – and is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the leading global authority on these sports.