Italy men's national water polo team

History

Water Polo became popular in Italy soon after 1899, when an exhibition match was played at the Bath of Diana in Milan, with the match being described in the press as: "like football but more tiring and difficult, requiring energy and strength beyond the ordinary".

Although a domestic league was soon established, the Italy national water polo team did not first compete at the Olympic Games until the 1920 Olympics, in Antwerp, Belgium, where they were forced to forfeit their first round match, before losing 5–1 to Greece and being eliminated.

The national team first fulfilled their potential at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, when they went undefeated for the whole tournament to claim their first gold medal in the discipline.

The Italian team reclaimed the title of Olympic champions in front of a home crowd at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. Italy won their third Olympic title at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, beating the hosts and tournament favourites Spain 9–8 after extra time in a thrilling final. Only Hungary (9), and Great Britain (4) have more Olympic titles.

The Italy national side have also won four World Championships, in 1978, 1994, 2011 and 2019, and the World Cup once in 1993. Italy also claimed their first European Championship in 1947.

Competitive record

Results

Olympic Games

Main article: Italy men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics

World Championship

FINA World Cup

• 1979 – 6th place
• 1983 – ** Bronze medal**
• 1985 – 5th place
• 1987 – 5th place
• 1989 – ** Silver medal**
• 1993 – ** Gold medal**
• 1995 – ** Silver medal**
• 1997 – 5th place
• 1999 – ** Silver medal**
• 2002 – 4th place
• 2006 – 5th place
• 2023 – ** Silver medal**
• 2025 – Suspended

FINA World League

• 2002 – Semi-final round
• 2003 – ** Silver medal**
• 2004 – 4th place
• 2005 – Semi-final round
• 2006 – Preliminary round
• 2007 – Preliminary round
• 2008 – 7th place
• 2009 – 5th place
• 2010 – Preliminary round
• 2011 – ** Silver medal**
• 2012 – ** Bronze medal**
• 2013 – Preliminary round
• 2014 – Preliminary round
• 2015 – 7th place
• 2016 – 4th place
• 2017 – ** Silver medal**
• 2018 – Did not participate
• 2019 – Preliminary round
• 2020 – 4th place
• 2022 – ** Gold medal**

European Championship

• 1927 – 12th place
• 1934 – 10th place
• 1938 – 5th place
• 1947 – ** Gold medal**
• 1950 – 4th place
• 1954 – ** Bronze medal**
• 1958 – 4th place
• 1962 – 8th place
• 1966 – 4th place
• 1970 – 4th place
• 1974 – 5th place
• 1977 – ** Bronze medal**
• 1981 – 6th place
• 1983 – 7th place
• 1985 – 4th place
• 1987 – ** Bronze medal**
• 1989 – ** Bronze medal**
• 1991 – 4th place
• 1993 – ** Gold medal**
• 1995 – ** Gold medal**
• 1997 – 6th place
• 1999 – ** Bronze medal**
• 2001 – ** Silver medal**
• 2003 – 9th place
• 2006 – 5th place
• 2008 – 5th place
• 2010 – ** Silver medal**
• 2012 – 4th place
• 2014 – ** Bronze medal**
• 2016 – 6th place
• 2018 – 4th place
• 2020 – 6th place
• 2022 – 4th place
• 2024 – ** Bronze medal**
• 2026 – 4th place

Europa Cup

• 2018 – ** Bronze medal**

Mediterranean Games

• 1951 – Did not participate
• 1955 – ** Gold medal**
• 1959 – ** Silver medal**
• 1963 – ** Gold medal**
• 1967 – ** Silver medal**
• 1971 – ** Silver medal**
• 1975 – ** Gold medal**
• 1979 – ** Silver medal**
• 1983 – ** Bronze medal**
• 1987 – ** Gold medal**
• 1991 – ** Gold medal**
• 1993 – ** Gold medal**
• 1997 – 4th place
• 2001 – ** Silver medal**
• 2005 – ** Silver medal**
• 2009 – ** Bronze medal**
• 2013 – 4th place
• 2018 – 5th place
• 2022 – 4th place

Current squad

Roster for the 2026 Men's European Water Polo Championship.

Head coach: Sandro Campagna

References

References

1. "FEDERAZIONE – Federazione Italiana Nuoto".
2. {{Cite HistoFINA wp
3. (9 January 2026). "Team Roster: Italy".