View source for Water polo at the World Aquatics Championships

{{Short description|none}} <!-- This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" - please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it! -->
{{Infobox sports league
|current_season=
|logo= 
|pixels=200px
|sport=[[Water polo]]
|founded=1973 (men) <br> 1986 (women)
|teams= 16 (finals)
|continent= International ([[FINA]])
|champion={{nowrap|{{wp|CRO}} (men, 3rd title)<br>{{wpw|USA}} (women, 8th title)}}
|most_champs={{wp|HUN}} and {{wp|ITA}}<br>(men; 4 titles each)<br>{{wpw|USA}} (women; 8 titles)}}
'''Water polo at the World Aquatics Championships''' is an international [[water polo]] tournament held every two years as part of the [[World Aquatics Championships]].<ref name="HistoFINA PDF"/> The reigning champions are [[Croatia men's national water polo team|Croatia]] in men's and the [[United States women's national water polo team|United States]] in women's competition.<ref>[https://www.worldaquatics.com/competitions/2969/world-aquatics-championships-doha-2024/results?disciplines=WP&event=34b5b78f-a3a8-460d-b237-8e52ef04400c]</ref>

==Events==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 1em;"
! Event || [[Water polo at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|1973]] || [[Water polo at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|1975]] || [[Water polo at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|1978]] || [[Water polo at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|1982]] || [[Water polo at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships|1986]] || [[Water polo at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships|1991]] || [[Water polo at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships|1994]] || [[Water polo at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships|1998]] || [[Water polo at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships|2001]] || [[Water polo at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003]] || [[Water polo at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships|2005]] || [[Water polo at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships|2007]] || [[Water polo at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships|2009]] || [[Water polo at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships|2011]] || [[Water polo at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships|2013]] || [[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships|2015]] || [[Water polo at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships|2017]] || [[Water polo at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships|2019]] || [[Water polo at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships|2022]] || [[Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships|2023]] || [[Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships|2024]] || Editions
|-
| Men's tournament
| [[Water polo at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|X]]
| 21
|-
| Women's tournament
| 
| 
| 
| 
| [[Water polo at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| [[Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|X]]
| 17
|- style="background-color: lightgrey;"
|colspan=23| 
|-
! Total !! 1 !! 1 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !! 2 !!
|}

==Men's tournament==
===Results summary===
{| class=wikitable style="border:1px solid #AAAAAA;font-size:90%"
|- style="background: #efefef;"
!width=5%|Year<ref name="HistoFINA PDF"/>
!width=10%|Host
!width=10%|Gold
!width=10%|Score
!width=10%|Silver
!width=10%|Bronze
!width=10%|Score
!width=10%|4th place
|- align=center
|'''[[1973 World Aquatics Championships|1973]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Belgrade]],<br />[[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]
|'''{{wp-big|HUN}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(5–4)'''
|{{wp-big|URS|1955}}
|{{wp-big|YUG}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(4–5)'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[1975 World Aquatics Championships|1975]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1975 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Cali]],<br />[[Colombia]]
|'''{{wp-big|URS|1955}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(5–4)'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(4–4)'''
|{{wp-big|CUB}}
|- align=center
|'''[[1978 World Aquatics Championships|1978]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1978 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[West Berlin]],<br />[[West Germany]]
|'''{{wp-big|ITA}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(4–4)'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|{{wp-big|YUG}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(6–4)'''
|{{wp-big|URS|1955}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[1982 World Aquatics Championships|1982]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Guayaquil]],<br />[[Ecuador]]
|'''{{wp-big|URS}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(7–7)'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|{{wp-big|FRG}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(5–3)'''
|{{wp-big|NED}}
|- align=center
|'''[[1986 World Aquatics Championships|1986]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Madrid]],<br />[[Spain]]
|'''{{wp-big|YUG}}'''
|'''12–11 (4 [[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|{{wp-big|URS}}
|'''8–6 (2 [[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wp-big|USA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[1991 World Aquatics Championships|1991]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Perth]],<br />[[Australia]]
|'''{{wp-big|YUG}}'''
|'''8–7'''
|{{wp-big|ESP}}
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|'''13–12'''
|{{wp-big|USA}}
|- align=center
|'''[[1994 World Aquatics Championships|1994]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Rome]],<br />[[Italy]]
|'''{{wp-big|ITA}}'''
|'''10–5'''
|{{wp-big|ESP}}
|{{wp-big|RUS}}
|'''14–13 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[1998 World Aquatics Championships|1998]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Perth]],<br />[[Australia]]
|'''{{wp-big|ESP}}'''
|'''6–4'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|{{wp-big|FRY}}
|'''9–5'''
|{{wp-big|AUS}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2001 World Aquatics Championships|2001]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Fukuoka]],<br />[[Japan]]
|'''{{wp-big|ESP}}'''
|'''4–2'''
|{{wp-big|FRY}}
|{{wp-big|RUS}}
|'''7–6'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Barcelona]],<br />[[Spain]]
|'''{{wp-big|HUN}}'''
|'''11–9 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|{{wp-big|SCG}}
|'''5–3'''
|{{wp-big|GRE}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2005 World Aquatics Championships|2005]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Montreal]],<br />[[Canada]]
|'''{{wp-big|SCG}}'''
|'''8–7'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|{{wp-big|GRE}}
|'''11–10 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2007 World Aquatics Championships|2007]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Melbourne]],<br />[[Australia]]
|'''{{wp-big|CRO}}'''
|'''9–8 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|{{wp-big|ESP}}
|'''9–9 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])<br /> (9–8 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wp-big|SRB}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2009 World Aquatics Championships|2009]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Rome]],<br />[[Italy]]
||'''{{wp-big|SRB}}'''
|'''7–7 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])<br /> (7–6 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wp-big|ESP}}
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|'''8–6'''
|{{wp-big|USA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2011 World Aquatics Championships|2011]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Shanghai]],<br />[[China]]
||'''{{wp-big|ITA}}'''
|'''8–7 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wp-big|SRB}}
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|'''12–11'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2013 World Aquatics Championships|2013]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Barcelona]],<br />[[Spain]]
|'''{{wp-big|HUN}}'''
|'''8–7'''
|{{wp-big|MNE}}
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|'''10–8'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2015 World Aquatics Championships|2015]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Kazan]],<br />[[Russia]]
||'''{{wp-big|SRB}}'''
|'''11–4'''
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|{{wp-big|GRE}}
|'''7–7<br /> (4–2 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2017 World Aquatics Championships|2017]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Budapest]],<br />[[Hungary]]
|'''{{wp-big|CRO}}'''
|'''8–6'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|{{wp-big|SRB}}
|'''11–8'''
|{{wp-big|GRE}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2019 World Aquatics Championships|2019]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Gwangju]],<br />[[South Korea]]
|'''{{wp-big|ITA}}'''
|'''10–5'''
|{{wp-big|ESP}}
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|'''10–7'''
|{{wp-big|HUN}}
|- align=center 
|'''[[2022 World Aquatics Championships|2022]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Budapest]],<br />[[Hungary]]
|'''{{wp-big|ESP}}'''
|'''9–9<br /> (6–5 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|{{wp-big|GRE}}
|'''9–7'''
|{{wp-big|CRO}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2023 World Aquatics Championships|2023]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Fukuoka]],<br />[[Japan]]
|'''{{wp-big|HUN}}'''
|'''10–10<br /> (4–3 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wp-big|GRE}}
|{{wp-big|ESP}}
|'''9–6'''
|{{wp-big|SRB}}
|- align=center 
|'''[[World Aquatics Championships|2024]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Doha]],<br />[[Qatar]]
|'''{{wp-big|CRO}}'''
|'''11–11<br /> (4–2 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wp-big|ITA}}
|{{wp-big|ESP}}
|'''14–10'''
|{{wp-big|FRA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[World Aquatics Championships|2025]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Kallang]],<br />[[Singapore]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|- align=center 
|'''[[World Aquatics Championships|2027]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2027 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Budapest]],<br />[[Hungary]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[World Aquatics Championships|2029]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2029 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Beijing]],<br />[[China]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Confederation statistics===
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament records and statistics#Confederation statistics}}

====Best performances by tournament====
{{World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament statistics – best performances of confederations}}

===Team statistics===
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament records and statistics#Team statistics}}

====Participating teams====
{{World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament statistics – participating teams}}

====Finishes in the top four====
{{World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament statistics – finishes in top four}}

====Medal table====
{{World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament statistics – medal table}}

====Champions (results and squads)====
{{main|List of world champions in men's water polo}}

{{World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament statistics – champions (results)}}

===Player statistics===
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament records and statistics#Player statistics}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 1em;"
|-
! (C)
| [[Captain (sports)|Captain]]
! Apps
| Appearances
! Ref
| Reference
! Rk
| Rank
|-
! L/R
| [[Handedness]]
! Pos
| [[Water polo#Positions|Playing position]]
! FP
| [[Glossary of water polo#F|Field player]]
! GK
| [[Goalkeeper (water polo)|Goalkeeper]]
|}

====Multiple gold medalists====
{{main|List of world champions in men's water polo|List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo}}

{{World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament statistics – multiple gold medalists}}

====Multiple medalists====
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo}}

{{World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament statistics – multiple medalists}}

==Women's tournament==
===Results summary===
{| class=wikitable style="border:1px solid #AAAAAA;font-size:90%"
|- style="background: #efefef;"
!width=5%|Year<ref name="HistoFINA PDF"/>
!width=10%|Host
!width=10%|Gold
!width=10%|Score
!width=10%|Silver
!width=10%|Bronze
!width=10%|Score
!width=10%|4th place
|- align=center
|'''[[1986 World Aquatics Championships|1986]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Madrid]],<br />[[Spain]]
|'''{{wpw-big|AUS}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(8–7)'''
|{{wpw-big|NED}}
|{{wpw-big|USA}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|'''Round-robin''']]<br />'''(7–7)'''
|{{wpw-big|CAN}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[1991 World Aquatics Championships|1991]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1991 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Perth]],<br />[[Australia]]
|'''{{wpw-big|NED}}'''
|'''13–6'''
|{{wpw-big|CAN}}
|{{wpw-big|USA}}
|'''11–9'''
|{{wpw-big|HUN}}
|- align=center
|'''[[1994 World Aquatics Championships|1994]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Rome]],<br />[[Italy]]
|'''{{wpw-big|HUN}}'''
|'''7–5'''
|{{wpw-big|NED}}
|{{wpw-big|ITA}}
|'''14–9'''
|{{wpw-big|USA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[1998 World Aquatics Championships|1998]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Perth]],<br />[[Australia]]
|'''{{wpw-big|ITA}}'''
|'''7–6'''
|{{wpw-big|NED}}
|{{wpw-big|AUS}}
|'''8–5'''
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2001 World Aquatics Championships|2001]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Fukuoka]],<br />[[Japan]]
|'''{{wpw-big|ITA}}'''
|'''7–3'''
|{{wpw-big|HUN}}
|{{wpw-big|CAN}}
|'''6–5'''
|{{wpw-big|USA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2003 World Aquatics Championships|2003]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Barcelona]],<br />[[Spain]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''8–6'''
|{{wpw-big|ITA|2003}}
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|'''9–7'''
|{{wpw-big|CAN}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2005 World Aquatics Championships|2005]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Montreal]],<br />[[Canada]]
|'''{{wpw-big|HUN}}'''
|'''10–7 ([[Overtime (sports)|OT]])'''
|{{wpw-big|USA}}
|{{wpw-big|CAN}}
|'''8–3'''
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2007 World Aquatics Championships|2007]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Melbourne]],<br />[[Australia]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''6–5'''
|{{wpw-big|AUS}}
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|'''9–8'''
|{{wpw-big|HUN}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2009 World Aquatics Championships|2009]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Rome]],<br />[[Italy]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''7–6'''
|{{wpw-big|CAN}}
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|'''10–9'''
|{{wpw-big|GRE}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2011 World Aquatics Championships|2011]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Shanghai]],<br />[[China]]
|'''{{wpw-big|GRE}}'''
|'''9–8'''
|{{wpw-big|CHN}}
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|'''8–7'''
|{{wpw-big|ITA}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2013 World Aquatics Championships|2013]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Barcelona]],<br />[[Spain]]
|'''{{wpw-big|ESP}}'''
|'''8–6'''
|{{wpw-big|AUS}}
|{{wpw-big|HUN}}
|'''10–8'''
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2015 World Aquatics Championships|2015]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Kazan]],<br />[[Russia]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''5–4'''
|{{wpw-big|NED}}
|{{wpw-big|ITA}}
|'''7–7<br /> (5–3 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wpw-big|AUS}}
|- align=center
|'''[[2017 World Aquatics Championships|2017]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Budapest]],<br />[[Hungary]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''13–6'''
|{{wpw-big|ESP}}
|{{wpw-big|RUS}}
|'''11–9'''
|{{wpw-big|CAN}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2019 World Aquatics Championships|2019]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Gwangju]],<br />[[South Korea]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''11–6'''
|{{wpw-big|ESP}}
|{{wpw-big|AUS}}
|'''10–9'''
|{{wpw-big|HUN}}
|- align=center 
|'''[[2022 World Aquatics Championships|2022]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Budapest]],<br />[[Hungary]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''9–7'''
|{{wpw-big|HUN}}
|{{wpw-big|NED}}
|'''7–5'''
|{{wpw-big|ITA}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[2023 World Aquatics Championships|2023]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Fukuoka]],<br />[[Japan]]
|'''{{wpw-big|NED}}'''
|'''12–12<br /> (5–4 [[Penalty shootout|pen.]])'''
|{{wpw-big|ESP}}
|{{wpw-big|ITA}}
|'''16–14'''
|{{wpw-big|AUS}}
|- align=center 
|'''[[World Aquatics Championships|2024]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Doha]],<br />[[Qatar]]
|'''{{wpw-big|USA}}'''
|'''8–7'''
|{{wpw-big|HUN}}
|{{wpw-big|ESP}}
|'''10–9'''
|{{wpw-big|GRE}}
|- align=center bgcolor=#E8E8F0
|'''[[World Aquatics Championships|2025]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Kallang]],<br />[[Singapore]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|- align=center 
|'''[[World Aquatics Championships|2027]]'''<br />''[[Water polo at the 2027 World Aquatics Championships – Women's tournament|Details]]''
|[[Budapest]],<br />[[Hungary]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Confederation statistics===
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament records and statistics#Confederation statistics}}

====Best performances by tournament====
{{World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament statistics – best performances of confederations}}

===Team statistics===
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament records and statistics#Team statistics}}

====Participating teams====
{{World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament statistics – participating teams}}

====Finishes in the top four====
{{World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament statistics – finishes in top four}}

====Medal table====
{{World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament statistics – medal table}}

====Champions (results and squads)====
{{main|List of world champions in women's water polo}}

{{World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament statistics – champions (results)}}

===Player statistics===
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament records and statistics#Player statistics}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 1em;"
|-
! (C)
| [[Captain (sports)|Captain]]
! Apps
| Appearances
! Ref
| Reference
! Rk
| Rank
|-
! L/R
| [[Handedness]]
! Pos
| [[Water polo#Positions|Playing position]]
! FP
| [[Glossary of water polo#F|Field player]]
! GK
| [[Goalkeeper (water polo)|Goalkeeper]]
|}

====Multiple gold medalists====
{{main|List of world champions in women's water polo|List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo}}

{{World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament statistics – multiple gold medalists}}

====Multiple medalists====
{{main|List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo}}

{{World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament statistics – multiple medalists}}

==Combined medal table==
The following table is pre-sorted by number of gold medals (in descending order), number of silver medals (in descending order), number of bronze medals (in descending order), name of the country (in ascending order), respectively.

Italy, Hungary and Spain are the only three countries to win both the men's and women's water polo tournaments at the World Aquatics Championships.

;Legend
* <sup>†</sup> – ''Former country''

{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = 
 | show_limit     = 
 | remaining_text = 
 | flag_template  = flagcountry
 | team           = 
 | gold_USA = 8 | silver_USA = 1 | bronze_USA = 2
 | gold_HUN = 6 | silver_HUN = 10 | bronze_HUN = 2
 | gold_ITA = 6 | silver_ITA = 5 | bronze_ITA = 4
 | gold_ESP = 4 | silver_ESP = 7 | bronze_ESP = 4
 | gold_CRO = 3 | silver_CRO = 1 | bronze_CRO = 4
 | gold_NED = 2 | silver_NED = 4 | bronze_NED = 1
 | gold_SRB = 2 | silver_SRB = 1 | bronze_SRB = 1
 | gold_URS = 2 | silver_URS = 1 | bronze_URS = 1 | name_URS = ''{{flagcountry|URS}}''<sup>†</sup>
 | gold_YUG = 2 | silver_YUG = 0 | bronze_YUG = 2 | name_YUG = ''{{flagcountry|YUG}}''<sup>†</sup>
 | gold_AUS = 1 | silver_AUS = 2 | bronze_AUS = 2
 | gold_GRE = 1 | silver_GRE = 1 | bronze_GRE = 3
 | gold_SCG = 1 | silver_SCG = 1 | bronze_SCG = 2 | name_SCG = ''{{wp|FRY}}''<sup>†</sup> | note_SCG = {{efn |name=FRYugoslavia}} /<br> ''{{wp|SCG}}''<sup>†</sup>
 | gold_CAN = 0 | silver_CAN = 2 | bronze_CAN = 2
 | gold_CHN = 0 | silver_CHN = 1 | bronze_CHN = 0
 | gold_MNE = 0 | silver_MNE = 1 | bronze_MNE = 0
 | gold_RUS = 0 | silver_RUS = 0 | bronze_RUS = 7
 | gold_FRG = 0 | silver_FRG = 0 | bronze_FRG = 1 | name_FRG = ''{{flagcountry|FRG}}''<sup>†</sup>
}}

==See also==
* [[List of World Aquatics Championships men's water polo tournament records and statistics]]
* [[List of World Aquatics Championships women's water polo tournament records and statistics]]
* [[List of world champions in men's water polo]]
* [[List of world champions in women's water polo]]
* [[List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo]]
* [[Water polo at the Summer Olympics]]
* [[FINA Water Polo World Rankings]]
* [[List of water polo world medalists]]
* [[Major achievements in water polo by nation]]

==Notes==
{{notelist|refs=

{{efn |name=FRYugoslavia |After the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]], [[Serbia and Montenegro men's national water polo team|FR Yugoslavia men's national water polo team]] participated at the 1998 and 2001 World Aquatics Championships. In 2003, after the country was renamed from FR Yugoslavia to Serbia and Montenegro, the team was also renamed to [[Serbia and Montenegro men's national water polo team]]. }}

}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<!--General-->

<ref name="HistoFINA PDF">{{Cite HistoFINA wp |pages=wch |format=dmy }}</ref>

<!--Players-->

<ref name="Marko Bijač OP">{{cite web|title=Marko Bijač |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/133338 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Andro Bušlje OP">{{cite web|title=Andro Bušlje |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/114178 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Kami Craig OP">{{cite web|title=Kami Craig |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/114135 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Laura Ester OP">{{cite web|title=Laura Ester |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/124842 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Rachel Fattal OP">{{cite web|title=Rachel Fattal |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/132188 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Makenzie Fischer OP">{{cite web|title=Makenzie Fischer |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/132187 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Kaleigh Gilchrist OP">{{cite web|title=Kaleigh Gilchrist |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/132183 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Ashleigh Johnson OP">{{cite web|title=Ashleigh Johnson |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/132182 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Maro Joković OP">{{cite web|title=Maro Joković |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/114174 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Luka Lončar OP">{{cite web|title=Luka Lončar |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/133337 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Amanda Longan OP">{{cite web|title=Amanda Longan |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/147301 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Blai Mallarach OP">{{cite web|title=Blai Mallarach |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/124846 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Maddie Musselman OP">{{cite web|title=Maddie Musselman |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/132186 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Kiley Neushul OP">{{cite web|title=Kiley Neushul |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/132184 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Slobodan Nikić OP">{{cite web|title=Slobodan Nikić |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/109472 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Josip Pavić OP">{{cite web|title=Josip Pavić |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/114176 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Pili Peña OP">{{cite web|title=Pili Peña |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/124851 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Felipe Perrone OP">{{cite web|title=Felipe Perrone |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/114186 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Heather Petri OP">{{cite web|title=Heather Petri |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/94896 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Jordan Raney OP">{{cite web|title=Jordan Raney |url=https://gostanford.com/sports/womens-water-polo/roster/jordan-raney/12869 |website=gostanford.com |publisher=Gostanford |access-date=19 February 2024 }}</ref>

<ref name="Melissa Seidemann OP">{{cite web|title=Melissa Seidemann |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/126734 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Maggie Steffens OP">{{cite web|title=Maggie Steffens |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/126741 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Sandro Sukno OP">{{cite web|title=Sandro Sukno |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/123550 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Brenda Villa OP">{{cite web|title=Brenda Villa |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/94900 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

<ref name="Alys Williams OP">{{cite web|title=Alys Williams |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/147300 |website=olympedia.org |publisher=Olympedia |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref>

}}

==Sources==
{{World Aquatics Championships water polo tournament statistics – sources|Both=yes}}

==External links==
*[http://www.fina.org/project/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=0&Itemid=50 FINA Water Polo website]

{{Water polo at the World Aquatics Championships}}
{{FINA World Aquatics Championships}}
{{International water polo}}
{{Water polo records and statistics}}
{{Main world championships}}

[[Category:Water polo at the World Aquatics Championships| ]]
[[Category:World Aquatics Championships|Water polo]]
[[Category:World championships in water polo|World Aquatics Championships]]