The 2002 FINA Men's Water Polo World Cup was the twelfth edition of the event, organised by the world's governing body in aquatics, the

International Swimming Federation World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA (; ), is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competitions in water sports. It is one of several international federations whi ...

(FINA). The event took place in the Tašmajdan Swimming Pool in

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

from August 20 to August 25, 2002. Participating teams were the eight best teams from the last

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

Fukuoka, Japan is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 km2 (1,925 sq mi). Fukuoka Prefecture borders Saga Prefecture to the southwest, Kuma ...

(2001). The FINA Cup in Belgrade decided which teams qualified directly to the

2003 World Aquatics Championships The 10th FINA World Aquatics Championships were held July 12–27, 2003 in Barcelona, Spain. The championships featured competition in all 5 of FINA's disciplines: Swimming, Diving, Synchronised swimming, Water Polo, and Open Water Swimming. ...

Barcelona, Spain Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a pop ...

from July 13 to July 27, 2003. Russia and Hungary, as well as the host Spain, already qualified based on the results from the 2002 FINA Men's Water Polo World League (June 28 – August 4, 2002).

Teams

The top eight teams from the previous World Aquatic Championship have qualified.

Seeding

Following ranking of the 2001 World Championship

Groups

Preliminary round

Group A

*August 20, 2002 *August 21, 2002 *August 22, 2002

Group B

*August 20, 2002 *August 21, 2002 *August 22, 2002

Quarterfinals

*August 23, 2002

Semifinals

*August 24, 2002

Finals

*August 23, 2002 — Seventh place *August 24, 2002 — Fifth place *August 25, 2002 — Third place *August 25, 2002 — First place
----

Final ranking

*''Yugoslavia, Italy, Greece and the United States qualified for the

. Russia and Hungary, as well as the host Spain, already qualified.''

Individual awards

*Most Valuable Player ** *Best Goalkeeper ** *Topscorer ** — 13 goals

Squads

Teo Đogaš Teo Đogaš (born 19 February 1977 in Split) is a water polo player from Croatia, who was a member of the men's national team that won the world title at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, Australia. At club level, Đogaš playe ...

* Nikola Franković * Hrvoje Herceg * Igor Hinić * Hrvoje Koljanin * Aljoša Kunač * Ivan Milaković * Dalibor Perčinić *

Danijel Premuš Danijel Premuš (born 15 April 1981) is a former water polo player. Premuš is a Croat who has dual Croatian and Italian citizenship and used to play for Croatia, going as far as being part of the Croatia men's national water polo team at 2004 S ...

* Tomislav Primorac * Ratko Štritof *

Goran Volarević Goran Volarević (born 2 April 1977) is a Croatian and Italian male water polo player. He was a member of the Croatia men's national water polo team, playing as a goalkeeper. He was a part of the team at the 2004 Summer Olympics. On club level h ...

Tihomil Vranješ Tihomil Vranješ (born 10 November 1977) is a Croatian male water polo player. He was a member of the Croatia men's national water polo team, playing as a driver. He was a part of the team at the 2004 Summer Olympics. On club level he played m ...

Head coach: *

Veselin Đuho Veselin Đuho (Веселин Ђухо, born 5 January 1960) is a Croatian professional water polo coach and former player who was a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Yugoslavia at the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics. Đuho was born in Foča but ...

Christos Afroudakis Christos Afroudakis (born 23 May 1984) is a Greek water polo player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was the captain of the team that competed for Greece at the 2016 Summer Olym ...

Theodoros Chatzitheodorou Theodoros "Thodoris" Chatzitheodorou ( , born 1 October 1976) is a retired Greek water polo player and current coach. Chatzitheodorou started his career at Ilisiakos and then moved to Olympiacos where he played for fifteen consecutive seasons (1 ...

* Nikolaos Deligiannis *

Theodoros Kalakonas Theodoros "Thodoris" Kalakonas (born 28 October 1974) is a Greek water polo player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics (6th place), and in the 2004 Summer Olympics (4th place) with the Greece men's national water polo team. He was part of th ...

* Konstantinos Loudis * Dimitrios Mazis * Georgios Reppas * Stefanos Santa *

Anastasios Schizas Anastasios Schizas (born 18 February 1977) is a Greek retired water polo player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics (4th place) and the 2008 Summer Olympics (7th place). Schizas was part of the Greece men's national water polo team that won ...

Argyris Theodoropoulos Argyris Theodoropoulos (born 13 January 1981) is a Greek water polo player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, in the 2008 Summer Olympics and in the 2012 Summer Olympics. See also * List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water ...

Ioannis Thomakos Ioannis Thomakos (born 14 March 1977) is a Greek water polo player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics (10th place), the 2004 Summer Olympics (4th place) and the 2008 Summer Olympics (7th place) with the Greece men's national water polo team ...

* Dimitrios Tsiklos *

Antonios Vlontakis Antonios "Antonis" Vlontakis (born 10 October 1975) is a retired Greek water polo player. A long-standing member of the Greece national water polo team, Vlontakis competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics (10th place), the 2004 Summer Olympics (4th pl ...

Head coach: * Takis Michalos

Alberto Angelini Alberto Angelini (born 28 September 1974) is a retired water polo player from Italy, who represented his native country at four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996 (Atlanta, Georgia). He was a member of the men's national team that cl ...

Fabio Bencivenga Fabio Bencivenga (born 20 January 1976) is a retired water polo player from Italy, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996 (Atlanta, Georgia). He was a member of the Men's National Team that clai ...

* Leonardo Binchi *

Fabrizio Buonocore Fabrizio Buonocore (born 28 April 1977) is an Italian water polo player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and in the 2008 Summer Olympics. See also * List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo This is a list of World Aq ...

Alessandro Calcaterra Alessandro Calcaterra (born 26 May 1975) is an Italian water polo player, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996 (Atlanta, Georgia). He was a member of the men's national team that claimed the b ...

* Roberto Calcaterra *

Maurizio Felugo Maurizio Felugo (born 4 March 1981) is an Italian male water polo player. He was a member of the Italy men's national water polo team, playing as a driver. Biography Born at Rapallo, he currently plays for Pro Recco and the Italian water polo ...

* Francesco Ferrari *

Goran Fiorentini Goran Fiorentini (born 21 November 1981) is a Croatian-Italian former water polo player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He is the elder brother of Deni Fiorentini and son of Yugoslavia player Branko Jovanović. Like his brother he hold ...

* Federico Mistrangelo *

Francesco Postiglione Francesco Postiglione (born 29 April 1972) is a former swimmer and water polo player from Italy, who represented his native country at four Summer Olympics: 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. At his Olympic debut he competed as a breaststroke swimmer (19 ...

Bogdan Rath Bogdan Rath (born 28 June 1972) is a Romanian and later Italy, Italian water polo player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics (for Romania) and in the 2004 Summer Olympics (for Italy). In June 2022, he became the coach of the Romanian nationa ...

* Stefano Tempesti Head coach: * Alessandro Campagna

* Attila Bárány *

Tibor Benedek Tibor Benedek (12 July 1972 – 18 June 2020) was a Hungarian professional water polo player and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olym ...

Péter Biros Péter Biros (born 5 April 1976) is a Hungarian former water polo player, who played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics, which makes him one of six male athletes who won three O ...

Rajmund Fodor Rajmund Fodor (born 21 February 1976 in Szeged) is a Hungarian water polo player, who played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. He is nicknamed ''Rajmi'', and made his debut for the national team in 199 ...

Tamás Kásás Tamás Kásás (; born 20 July 1976) is a retired Hungarian water polo player. Kásás is often described as the best defensive player of his era, if not the best overall. He is known for his ability to spring out of the water and block shots, ...

* Gergely Katonás *

Gergely Kiss Dr. Gergely "Gergő" Kiss (born 21 September 1977) is a Hungarian former water polo player. He was considered to be one of the best left-handed water polo players of his time. Kiss is one of six male athletes who won three Olympic gold meda ...

* Zoltán Kovács * Csaba Kiss *

Tamás Molnár Tamás Molnár (born 2 August 1975) is a Hungarian former water polo player, who played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics. He is one of ten male athletes who won three Olympic g ...

Barnabás Steinmetz Barnabás Steinmetz (born 6 October 1975 in Budapest) is a Hungarian water polo player who played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. He is nicknamed ''Barney'' and ''Sema'', and made his debut for the n ...

* Zoltán Szécsi *

Attila Vári Attila Vári (born 26 February 1976 in Budapest), nicknamed ''Doki'', is a Hungarian water polo player, who played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. Vári began his athletic career with modern pentath ...

Head coach: *

Dénes Kemény Dénes Kemény (born 14 June 1954) is a former Hungary, Hungarian water polo player who was the trainer and president of the Hungary men's national water polo team from 1997 to 2012. During his reign the Hungarian team won at least a medal in 2 ...

Revaz Chomakhidze Revaz Chomakhidze (born 15 December 1973) is a Georgian water polo player who played on the silver medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Career The well-built player started his water polo ...

* Denis Denisov * Aleksandr Fyodorov *

Serguei Garbouzov Sergey Garbuzov (born 13 January 1974) is a retired Russian water polo player who played on the silver medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics. See also * Russia men's Olympic water polo te ...

Dmitry Gorshkov Dmitry Gorshkov (born 29 April 1967 in Moscow) is a Russian water polo player who played on the silver medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal squads at the 1992 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. At the 2000 Summer ...

Nikolay Kozlov Nikolay Nikolaevich Kozlov (; born 21 July 1972) is a retired Russian water polo player. He competed at the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won one silver and two bronze medals. See also * Russia men's Olympic water polo team records and ...

Nikolay Maximov Nikolay Mikhaylovich Maksimov (; born 15 November 1972) is a Russian water polo goalkeeper, who played at the 1996 Summer Olympics, on the silver medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He ...

Andrei Reketchinski Andrei Rekechinski (born 7 January 1981) is a retired Russian water polo player who played on the silver medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Since 2016-2022, he worked as a general dire ...

Dmitri Stratan Dmitri Ivanovich Stratan (; born 24 January 1975) is a Soviet and Russian water polo forward. He competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics for the Ukrainian team that finished in 12th place. At the next two Olympics he played for Russia and won a silv ...

* Yuri Yatsev * Alexander Yerishev *

Marat Zakirov Marat Sagitovich Zakirov (, born November 8, 1973) is a Russian water polo player who played on the silver medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics. See also * List of Olympic medalists in w ...

Irek Zinnourov Irek Khaydarovich Zinnurov (; born 11 January 1969) is a Russian water polo player of Tatar origin who played on the silver medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the bronze medal squad at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He won four Russian titles ...

Head coach: *

Aleksandr Kabanov Aleksandr Sergeyevich Kabanov (, 14 June 1948 – 30 June 2020) was a Soviet and Russian water polo player and head coach of the Russian water polo team. He is one of a few sportspeople who won Olympic medals in water polo as players and head co ...

* Tony Azevedo * Ryan Bailey *

Layne Beaubien Ronald Layne Beaubien (born July 4, 1976) is an American water polo player. He was a member of the United States men's national water polo team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In the championship game, the USA team won the silver medal, after defea ...

* Larry Felix * Peter Hudnut * Dan Klatt *

Genai Kerr Genai Kerr is an American water polo player. He is a member of the United States men's national water polo team and played in the 2004 Athens Olympics.Merrill Moses Merrill M. Moses (born August 13, 1977) is a United States Olympic silver medalist, three-time Olympian, and three-time Pan American Games gold medalist water polo goalkeeper. He played college water polo for Pepperdine University, where he wa ...

* Jeff Powers * Chris Segesman * Jesse Smith * Wolf Wigo * Adam Wright Head coach: *

Ratko Rudić Ratko Rudić (born 7 June 1948) is a retired Croatian water polo coach and a former water polo player. , he has won 38 medals as a coach at major events, making him the most successful water polo coach in history, and second most successful team ...

Aleksandar Ćirić Aleksandar Ćirić ( sr-cyrl, Александар Ћирић, born 30 December 1977 in Belgrade) is a Serbian retired water polo player and current head coach of European powerhouse Olympiacos Women's Water Polo Team, who played for two Olympi ...

Danilo Ikodinović Danilo “Dača” Ikodinović ( sr-cyrl, Данило Дача Икодиновић, born 4 October 1976) is a Serbian former professional water polo player who played on the bronze medal squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics (with Yugoslavia) and t ...

Nikola Janović Nikola Janović (; born 22 March 1980) is a Montenegrin water polo player and the former Minister of Sports and Youth of Montenegro. He was one of the best water polo player in the world. He was a captain of the Montenegro men's national water ...

Viktor Jelenić Viktor Jelenić ( sr-cyr, Виктор Јеленић; born 31 October 1970) is a former Serbian water polo player. He was part of the gold medal winning team of Yugoslavia at the 1991 World Championship. He played on the bronze medal squad of F ...

Nikola Kuljača Nikola Kuljača (born 16 August 1974 in Belgrade, Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Serbian water polo goalkeeper who played for the team of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro on the bronze medal squad at the 2000 Summer ...

Aleksandar Šapić Aleksandar Šapić ( sr-cyrl, Александар Шапић; born 1 June 1978) is a Serbian politician and former professional water polo player who has been the mayor of Belgrade since 2024, previously serving that role from 2022 to 2023. A ...

Dejan Savić Dejan Savić ( sr-cyr, Дејан Савић; born 24 April 1975) is a Serbian professional water polo coach and former player. During his playing career, he was part of two Olympic bronze medal squads, one for FR Yugoslavia at the 2000 Olympic ...

Denis Šefik Denis Šefik ( sr-cyr, Денис Шефик; born 20 September 1976) is a Serbian water polo player who played for VK Radnički. He represented the Serbia and Montenegro national team until 2006, Serbian national team until 2008 and since 2010 ...

Petar Trbojević Petar Trbojević (born 9 September 1973) is a Serbian former water polo player who played on the bronze medal squad of FR Yugoslavia at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the silver medal squad of Serbia and Montenegro at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Clu ...

Vanja Udovičić Vanja Udovičić, (born Franjo Udovičić,, on 12 September 1982) is a Serbian politician and former professional water polo player who served as minister of youth and sports from 2013 to 2022. An independent politician, he is aligned with t ...

Vladimir Vujasinović Vladimir Vujasinović ( sr-cyrl, Владимир Вујасиновић; ; born 14 August 1973) is a Serbian professional water polo head coach and former player. He currently serves as head coach of VK Novi Beograd. During his playing career ...

Nenad Vukanić Nenad Vukanić (born 16 May 1974 in Kotor) is a water polo player who played for FR Yugoslavia at the 2000 Summer Olympics. See also * List of Olympic medalists in water polo (men) * List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in water polo ...

Boris Zloković Boris Zloković (Cyrillic script, Montenegrin Cyrillic: Борис Злоковић; born 16 March 1983) is a Montenegrin retired water polo player. He was a member of the Montenegro men's national water polo team, Montenegro national team at the ...

Head coach: *

Nenad Manojlović Nenad Manojlović (; 25 March 1954 – 24 November 2014) was a Yugoslav and Serbian water polo player and manager. His brother Predrag also played the sport at elite level. As manager of Serbia and Montenegro men's national water polo team (form ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2002 Fina Men's Water Polo World Cup

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

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