Water polo at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification

The women's qualification for the Olympic water polo tournament occurred between July 2023 and February 2024, allocating ten teams for the final tournament. As the host nation, France reserved a direct spot each for the women's team.^[2][3]

The remainder of the total quota was attributed to the eligible NOCs through a tripartite qualification pathway. First, the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, scheduled for 16 to 28 July in Fukuoka, Japan, produced the winners and runners-up of the women's water polo tournament qualifying for Paris 2024. Five more quota places were awarded to the highest-ranked eligible NOC at each of the continental meets (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) approved by World Aquatics. If any of the continental qualifying tournaments did not occur within the qualifying period, the vacant spot was entitled to the highest-ranked eligible NOC from a respective continent at the succeeding edition of the Worlds.^[3]

The last batch of quota places was assigned to the two highest-ranked eligible NOCs at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar to complete the ten-team field for the Games.^[2][3]

Qualification summary

Qualification	Date	Host	Berths	Qualified team
Host country	—		1	France
2023 World Aquatics Championships	16–28 July 2023	Fukuoka	2	Netherlands
				Spain
2023 Oceanian Qualifier Series	11–12 August 2023	Auckland	1	Australia
2022 Asian Games	25 September – 1 October 2023	Hangzhou	1	China
2023 Pan American Games	30 October – 4 November 2023	Santiago	1	United States
2024 European Championships	5–13 January 2024	Eindhoven	1	Greece
2024 World Aquatics Championships	4–16 February 2024	Doha	2	Hungary
				Italy
2024 World Aquatics Championships – Africa			1	South Africa
2024 World Aquatics Championships – Reallocation			1	Canada[a]
Total			10

1. South Africa withdrew from the tournament after the 2024 World Aquatics Championships. Canada, as the best non-qualified team, took their spot.^[4]

2023 World Championships

Main article: Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament

The winner and the runner-up of the women's water polo tournament at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan obtained a ticket for Paris 2024.^[3]

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	United States	3	3	0	0	0	40	16	+24	9	Quarterfinals
2	Australia	3	2	0	0	1	26	24	+2	6	Playoffs
3	France	3	1	0	0	2	25	37	−12	3
4	China	3	0	0	0	3	24	38	−14	0

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.

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Netherlands	3	3	0	0	0	61	16	+45	9	Quarterfinals
2	Spain	3	2	0	0	1	52	17	+35	6	Playoffs
3	Israel	3	1	0	0	2	30	52	−22	3
4	Kazakhstan	3	0	0	0	3	13	71	−58	0

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.

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Greece	3	3	0	0	0	61	16	+45	9	Quarterfinals
2	Italy	3	2	0	0	1	63	19	+44	6	Playoffs
3	South Africa	3	1	0	0	2	16	57	−41	3
4	Argentina	3	0	0	0	3	12	60	−48	0

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.

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Hungary	3	3	0	0	0	60	36	+24	9	Quarterfinals
2	Canada	3	2	0	0	1	40	34	+6	6	Playoffs
3	New Zealand	3	1	0	0	2	33	52	−19	3
4	Japan (H)	3	0	0	0	3	49	60	−11	0

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

Bracket

Playoffs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

24 July

United States

7

22 July

Italy

8

Italy

14

26 July

New Zealand

7

Italy

8

Netherlands

9

24 July

Netherlands

17

22 July

Canada

10

South Africa

6

28 July

Canada

21

Netherlands (PSO)

12 (5)

Spain

12 (4)

24 July

Greece

8

22 July

Australia

9

Australia

16

26 July

Israel

7

Australia

10

Spain

12

Third place

24 July

28 July

Hungary

9

Italy

16

22 July

Spain

12

Australia

14

France

9

Spain

16

5th place bracket

	5th–8th place semifinals				Fifth place game
	26 July
	United States	16
					28 July
	Canada	4
					United States (PSO)	11 (4)
	26 July
					Hungary	11 (2)
	Greece	9
	Hungary	10
					Seventh place game
					28 July
					Canada (PSO)	10 (4)
					Greece	10 (2)

9th place bracket

	9th–12th place semifinals				Ninth place game
	24 July
	Israel	15
					26 July
	New Zealand	12
					Israel	7
	24 July
					France	11
	France	20
	South Africa	6
					Eleventh place game
					26 July
					New Zealand	25
					South Africa	6

13th place bracket

	13th–16th place semifinals				13th place game
	22 July
	China	16
					24 July
	Kazakhstan	6
					China	18
	22 July
					Japan	10
	Argentina	11
	Japan	21
					15th place game
					24 July
					Kazakhstan	10
					Argentina	8

Final standing

Rank[5]	Team
	Netherlands
	Spain
	Italy
4	Australia
5	United States
6	Hungary
7	Canada
8	Greece
9	France
10	Israel
11	New Zealand
12	South Africa
13	China
14	Japan
15	Kazakhstan
16	Argentina

Continental tournaments

The highest-ranked eligible NOC from each of the five continental qualification tournaments (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) secured a quota place for Paris 2024. If any of the continental qualifying tournaments did not occur within the qualifying period, the vacant spot would be entitled to the highest-ranked eligible NOC from a respective continent at the succeeding edition of the Worlds.^[3]

Oceania

The 2023 Oceanian Qualifier Series was played between 11 and 12 August 2023, in Auckland, New Zealand.^[6]

Team 1	Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
New Zealand	8–32	Australia	3–17	5–15

Asia

Main article: Water polo at the 2022 Asian Games – Women

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	China	6	6	0	0	0	155	38	+117	18
2	Japan	6	5	0	0	1	170	63	+107	15
3	Kazakhstan	6	4	0	0	2	87	66	+21	12
4	Singapore	6	3	0	0	3	59	90	−31	9
5	Thailand	6	2	0	0	4	70	96	−26	6
6	Uzbekistan	6	1	0	0	5	60	125	−65	3
7	South Korea	6	0	0	0	6	25	148	−123	0

Source: OCA

Europe

Main article: 2024 Women's European Water Polo Championship

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Netherlands (H)	3	3	0	0	0	53	27	+26	9	Quarterfinals
2	Greece	3	2	0	0	1	49	35	+14	6
3	Hungary	3	1	0	0	2	40	30	+10	3	Playoffs
4	Croatia	3	0	0	0	3	16	66	−50	0

Source: LEN
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

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Spain	3	3	0	0	0	53	23	+30	9	Quarterfinals
2	Italy	3	2	0	0	1	40	31	+9	6
3	France	3	1	0	0	2	30	37	−7	3	Playoffs
4	Israel	3	0	0	0	3	26	58	−32	0

Source: LEN
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.

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Serbia	3	3	0	0	0	43	14	+29	9	Playoffs
2	Czech Republic	3	2	0	0	1	27	36	−9	6
3	Romania	3	1	0	0	2	25	35	−10	3	Classification round
4	Turkey	3	0	0	0	3	22	32	−10	0

Source: LEN
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.

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Great Britain	3	3	0	0	0	43	19	+24	9	Playoffs
2	Germany	3	2	0	0	1	47	31	+16	6
3	Slovakia	3	1	0	0	2	40	32	+8	3	Classification round
4	Bulgaria	3	0	0	0	3	23	71	−48	0

Source: LEN
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.

Bracket

Play-offs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

9 January

Spain

17

8 January

Croatia

6

Croatia

11

11 January

Serbia

8

Spain

13

Greece

5

9 January

Greece

15

8 January

France

7

France

14

13 January

Germany

6

Spain

7

Netherlands

8

9 January

Netherlands

25

8 January

Great Britain

6

Israel

9 (4)

11 January

Great Britain (PSO)

9 (5)

Netherlands

7

Italy

6

Third place

9 January

13 January

Italy

12

Greece

7

8 January

Hungary

11

Italy

6

Hungary

27

Czech Republic

4

Final standing

Rank	Team
	Netherlands
	Spain
	Greece
4	Italy
5	Hungary
6	France
7	Great Britain
8	Croatia
9	Israel
10	Serbia
11	Germany
12	Czech Republic
13	Turkey
14	Romania
15	Slovakia
16	Bulgaria

Americas

Main article: Water polo at the 2023 Pan American Games – Women's tournament

Pool A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Canada	3	3	0	0	0	70	19	+51	9	Quarterfinals
2	Argentina	3	1	1	0	1	35	37	−2	5
3	Cuba	3	1	0	1	1	34	53	−19	4
4	Mexico	3	0	0	0	3	24	54	−30	0

Source: Santiago 2023
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.

Pool B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	United States	3	3	0	0	0	89	3	+86	9	Quarterfinals
2	Brazil	3	2	0	0	1	53	34	+19	6
3	Puerto Rico	3	1	0	0	2	21	60	−39	3
4	Chile (H)	3	0	0	0	3	14	80	−66	0

Source: Santiago 2023
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

Bracket

	Quarterfinals				Semifinals				Gold medal match
	2 November
	Argentina	13
					3 November
	Puerto Rico	11
					Argentina	1
	2 November
					United States	27
	Mexico	1
									4 November
	United States	32
									United States	20
	2 November
									Canada	11
	Cuba	10
					3 November
	Brazil	12
					Brazil	4
	2 November
					Canada	21			Bronze medal match
	Canada	33
									4 November
	Chile	2
									Argentina	9
									Brazil	10

	5–8th place semifinals				Fifth place
	3 November
	Puerto Rico	9
					4 November
	Mexico	10
					Mexico	15
	3 November
					Cuba	11
	Cuba	15
	Chile	13
					Seventh place
					4 November
					Puerto Rico	18
					Chile	13

Final standing

Rank	Team
	United States
	Canada
	Brazil
4	Argentina
5	Mexico
6	Cuba
7	Puerto Rico
8	Chile

2024 World Championships

Main article: Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament

The top two teams and the top African team of the women's water polo tournament at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar obtained a ticket for Paris 2024.^[3]

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	United States	3	3	0	0	0	63	16	+47	9	Quarterfinals
2	Netherlands	3	2	0	0	1	62	19	+43	6	Playoffs
3	Kazakhstan	3	0	1	0	2	17	69	−52	2
4	Brazil	3	0	0	1	2	20	58	−38	1	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
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.

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Spain	3	3	0	0	0	48	20	+28	9	Quarterfinals
2	Greece	3	2	0	0	1	41	31	+10	6	Playoffs
3	China	3	0	1	0	2	20	46	−26	2
4	France	3	0	0	1	2	19	31	−12	1	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
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.

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Hungary	3	3	0	0	0	71	19	+52	9	Quarterfinals
2	Australia	3	2	0	0	1	54	20	+34	6	Playoffs
3	New Zealand	3	1	0	0	2	44	36	+8	3
4	Singapore	3	0	0	0	3	7	101	−94	0	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
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.

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PSW	PSL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Italy	3	3	0	0	0	59	21	+38	9	Quarterfinals
2	Canada	3	2	0	0	1	52	19	+33	6	Playoffs
3	Great Britain	3	1	0	0	2	29	47	−18	3
4	South Africa	3	0	0	0	3	10	63	−53	0	13–16th place semifinals

Source: World Aquatics
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.

Bracket

Playoffs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

12 February

United States

10

10 February

Australia

9

Australia

20

14 February

Great Britain

8

United States

11

Spain

9

12 February

Spain

12

10 February

Canada

9

New Zealand

12

16 February

Canada

14

United States

8

Hungary

7

12 February

Hungary (PSO)

8 (5)

10 February

Netherlands

8 (4)

Netherlands

16

14 February

China

14

Hungary (PSO)

9 (4)

Greece

9 (2)

Third place

12 February

16 February

Italy

12

Spain

10

10 February

Greece

14

Greece

9

Kazakhstan

5

Greece

24

5th place bracket

	5th–8th place semifinals				Fifth place game
	14 February
	Australia	10
					16 February
	Canada	8
					Australia	8
	14 February
					Netherlands	10
	Netherlands	10
	Italy	5
					Seventh place game
					16 February
					Canada	12
					Italy	18

9th place bracket

	9th–12th place semifinals				Ninth place game
	12 February
	China	15
					14 February
	Great Britain	10
					China	15
	12 February
					New Zealand	16
	Kazakhstan	8
	New Zealand	23
					Eleventh place game
					14 February
					Great Britain	8
					Kazakhstan	6

13th place bracket

	13th–16th place semifinals				13th place game
	10 February
	Brazil	8
					12 February
	France	17
					France	19
	10 February
					South Africa	8
	Singapore	6
	South Africa	20
					15th place game
					12 February
					Brazil	18
					Singapore	2

Final standing

Rank[7]	Team
	United States
	Hungary
	Spain
4	Greece
5	Netherlands
6	Australia
7	Italy
8	Canada
9	New Zealand
10	China
11	Great Britain
12	Kazakhstan
13	France
14	South Africa
15	Brazil
16	Singapore

References

1. "Qualification System – Games of the XXXIII Olympiad – Water Polo" (PDF). AQUA. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
2. "Paris 2024 – Water Polo Info". World Aquatics. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
3. Depasse, Guillaume (2 November 2022). "How to qualify for water polo at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
4. "In last-second reversal, Canada's women's water polo team qualifies for Olympics". cbc.ca. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
5. "World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023-Final Standings". worldaquatics.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
6. "Australia set for Paris 2024 after winning Oceania Olympic water polo qualifier". insidethegames.biz. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
7. "World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024-Final Standings". worldaquatics.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.