Competition Format

Men

12 teams of 13 players each (156 men's players) The men's Water Polo competition will be comprised of preliminary, quarterfinal, semifinal and final round.

Preliminary Round

The 12 men's teams will be divided into two groups (A&B), composed of six (6) teams each, and play a single round robin in each group.

Quarterfinal Round

The 1st placed teams in Groups A and B will have a bye. The 2nd and 3rd placed teams will play against each other in a cross-group format. Losers go on to play a series of classification matches.

Semifinal Round

Winners from the quarterfinal will progress to the semifinals and play against the teams placed 1st in each Group of the preliminary round. Losers go on to play classification matches.

Final Round

Winners of the semifinals will contest the gold medal match and the losers the bronze medal match.

Classification Round

The 5th and 6th placed teams from each group in the preliminary round play against each other in a cross-group format to determine who will play for places 9-12. These matches make up part of the quarterfinal round. The 4th placed teams from each group have a bye in this round. The losers of the classification matches in the quarterfinal round will play for places 11 & 12. The winners of the classification matches in the quarterfinal round will play the 4th placed teams from each group to determine who will play for places 7-10. These matches are part of the semifinal round.

The losers of the classification 7-10 matches will play each other for places 9 & 10. The winners will play for places 7 & 8. The losers of the main draw quarterfinals will play for places 5 & 6. These matches are part of the final round.

Women

Women: 13 players of 8 teams each (104 women's players)

The Water Polo competition for women will be comprised of preliminary, quarterfinal, semifinal and final round.

Preliminary Round

Two groups of four teams will be divided into two groups (A&B), composed of four (4) teams each and play a single round robin in each group.

Quarterfinal Round

The 1st placed teams from Group A and B will have a bye. The 4th placed teams from Group A and B will play for places 7 & 8, while the rest will play cross with each other to form the semifinal round.

Semifinal Round

The losers from the quarterfinal round will play for places 5-6, while the winners will play with the 1st team from Group A and B of the preliminary round.

Final Round

Winners of the semifinals will contest the gold medal match and the losers the bronze medal match.