Water polo has a long history at the Olympics, dating to the sport's debut at the second modern Games in Paris in 1900.
That first competition was held in the Seine. Still, accommodations for one of the most physically demanding sports on the program will be more comfortable in 2024 with a pair of modern arenas set to host the event.
While Eastern European countries have traditionally dominated the men's medal stand, the United States has been the preeminent power since the women's competition began in 2000. Team USA has medaled in all six Olympics since and enters Paris looking to win a fourth consecutive gold medal.
Longtime U.S. coach Adam Krikorian will send out an experienced squad led by four-time Olympian Maggie Steffens, the team captain, and fellow veterans Ashleigh Johnson, Maddie Musselman, Rachel Fattal and Kaleigh Gilchrist.
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On the men's side, Serbia is looking to extend its streak after winning gold in Tokyo and Rio. The Serbs took bronze in the two Olympics before that and have established themselves as the latest dynasty in the sport.
Other contenders should include the 2012 gold medalists and 2016 runners-up, Croatia, and the nation that loves water polo like no other, Hungary, the nine-time gold medalists who took bronze in Tokyo.
Who will reach the top of the podium in Paris? Here's how to watch all the action:
Olympic water polo TV channels live streams 2024
- TV channels: USA, E!, NBC
- Live streams: Fubo, Peacock
Water polo will air live mostly on USA Network and E!, with NBC also showing select matches.
Every match on those networks can be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial so new users can try before they buy. Peacock will stream every match of the men's and women's competition.
Olympics water polo schedule
2024 Olympics men's water polo schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | TV/Live stream |
| Sun., July 28 | 4:30 a.m. | Australia vs. Spain | Peacock |
| 6:05 a.m. | Serbia vs. Japan | Peacock | |
| 9 a.m. | USA vs. Italy | USA, NBC (at 9:30 a.m.), Peacock, Fubo | |
| 10:35 a.m. | Croatia vs. Montenegro | Peacock | |
| 1:30 p.m. | France vs. Hungary | Peacock | |
| 3:05 p.m. | Romania vs. Greece | Peacock | |
| 11 p.m. | USA vs. Italy* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Tue., July 30 | 4:30 a.m. | Australia vs. Serbia | Peacock |
| 6:05 a.m. | Croatia vs. Italy | Peacock | |
| 9 a.m. | Japan vs. France | Peacock | |
| 10:30 a.m. | USA vs. Romania | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Montenegro vs. Greece | Peacock | |
| 3 p.m. | Spain vs. Hungary | Peacock | |
| Thu., Aug. 1 | 4:30 a.m. | USA vs. Greece | E!, Peacock, Fubo |
| 6:05 a.m. | Serbia vs. Spain | Peacock | |
| 9 a.m. | France vs. Australia | Peacock | |
| 10:35 a.m. | Italy vs. Montenegro | Peacock | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Romania vs. Croatia | Peacock | |
| 3:05 p.m. | Hungary vs. Japan | Peacock | |
| 5:30 p.m. | USA vs. Greece* | NBC, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 11 p.m. | USA vs. Greece* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Sat., Aug. 3 | 4:30 a.m. | Spain vs. Japan | Peacock |
| 6:05 a.m. | Croatia vs. Greece | Peacock | |
| 9 a.m. | Australia vs. Hungary | Peacock | |
| 10:30 a.m. | USA vs. Montenegro | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Serbia vs. France | Peacock | |
| 3:05 p.m. | Italy vs. Romania | Peacock | |
| 11 p.m. | USA vs. Montenegro* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Mon., Aug. 5 | 6 a.m. | Hungary vs. Serbia | Peacock |
| 7:35 a.m. | Australia vs. Japan | Peacock | |
| 9:10 a.m. | Greece vs. Italy | Peacock | |
| 12:30 p.m. | USA vs. Croatia | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 2 p.m. | France vs. Spain | Peacock | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Romania vs. Montenegro | Peacock | |
| Wed., Aug. 7 | 8 a.m. | Quarterfinal | E!, Peacock, Fubo |
| 9:35 a.m. | Quarterfinal | Peacock | |
| 1 p.m. | Quarterfinal | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 2:35 p.m. | Quarterfinal | Peacock | |
| Fri., Aug. 9 | 7 a.m. | Classification match 1 | Peacock |
| 8:30 a.m. | Semifinal | E!, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 12 p.m. | Classification match 2 | Peacock | |
| 1:35 p.m. | Semifinal | Peacock | |
| 5 p.m. | Semifinal* | E!, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Sat., Aug. 10 | 1:35 p.m. | Classification match 3 | Peacock |
| Sun., Aug. 11 | 3 a.m. | Classification match 4 | Peacock |
| 4:30 a.m. | Bronze medal match | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 8 a.m. | Gold medal match | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Bronze medal match* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Gold medal match* | USA, Peacock, Fubo |
* - tape-delayed encore presentation
2024 Olympics women's water polo schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | TV/Live stream |
| Sat., July 27 | 8 a.m. | Netherlands vs. Hungary | E!, Peacock, Fubo |
| 9:30 a.m. | USA vs. Greece | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 12:30 p.m. | Spain vs. France | Peacock | |
| 2:05 p.m. | Australia vs. China | Peacock | |
| 6 p.m. | USA vs. Greece* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Mon., July 29 | 8 a.m. | France vs. Italy | Peacock |
| 9:35 a.m. | USA vs. Spain | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 12:30 p.m. | China vs. Netherlands | Peacock | |
| 2 p.m. | Canada vs. Hungary | E!, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 7 p.m. | USA vs. Spain* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Wed., July 31 | 8 a.m. | Netherlands vs. Australia | Peacock |
| 9:35 a.m. | Canada vs. China | Peacock | |
| 12:30 p.m. | USA vs. Italy | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 2:05 p.m. | Spain vs. Greece | Peacock | |
| Fri., Aug. 2 | 8 a.m. | Australia vs. Canada | Peacock |
| 9:35 a.m. | Greece vs. Italy | Peacock | |
| 12:30 p.m. | USA vs. France | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 2:05 p.m. | China vs. Hungary | Peacock | |
| Sun., Aug. 3 | 8 a.m. | Hungary vs. Australia | Peacock |
| 9:35 a.m. | Italy vs. Spain | Peacock | |
| 12:30 p.m. | Canada vs. Netherlands | Peacock | |
| 2:05 p.m. | France vs. Greece | Peacock | |
| Tue., Aug. 6 | 8 a.m. | Quarterfinal | Peacock |
| 9:35 a.m. | Quarterfinal | Peacock | |
| 1 p.m. | Quarterfinal | E!, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 2:35 p.m. | Quarterfinal | Peacock | |
| 5 p.m. | Quarterfinal* | NBC, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Thu., Aug. 8 | 7 a.m. | Classification match 1 | Peacock |
| 8:35 a.m. | Semifinal | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 12 p.m. | Classification match 2 | Peacock | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Semifinal | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 5 p.m. | Semifinal* | NBC, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Semifinal* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| Sat., Aug. 10 | 3 a.m. | Classification match 3 | Peacock |
| 4:35 a.m. | Bronze medal match | Peacock | |
| 6 a.m. | Bronze medal match* | E!, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 8 a.m. | Classification match 4 | Peacock | |
| 9:30 a.m. | Gold medal match | NBC, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Bronze medal match* | USA, Peacock, Fubo | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Gold medal match* | USA, Peacock, Fubo |
* - tape-delayed encore presentation
Olympic water polo venues 2024
- Venues: Paris Aquatic Centre, Paris La Defense Arena
Every women's group-stage match will take place at the Paris Aquatic Centre in suburban Saint-Denis, a newly built 5,000-seat facility across the street from the Stade de France. The arena also will host men's group play through Aug. 3.
Beginning Aug. 5, all remaining men's and women's matches will take place at Paris La Defense Arena, which will host the swimming competition the first week of the Games. A much larger multi-purpose facility in Nanterre that seats more than 30,000, the arena is home to the Racing 92 rugby club and hosted Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in May.