Water polo at the 1986 World Aquatics Championships – Men's tournament

The 1986 Men's World Water Polo Championship was the fifth edition of the men's water polo tournament at the World Aquatics Championships, organised by the world governing body in aquatics, the FINA. The tournament was held from 13 to 23 August 1986, and was incorporated into the 1986 World Aquatics Championships in Madrid, Spain.

This was the only men's world championship to have featured fifteen teams instead of the usual sixteen. Yugoslavia won its first title by defeating Italy in the final. The Soviet Union, the defending champion, came third.

Groups formed

 * Group A


 * Group B


 * Group C


 * Group D

Group A

 * 14 August 1986


 * 15 August 1986


 * 16 August 1986

Group B

 * 14 August 1986


 * 15 August 1986


 * 16 August 1986

Group C

 * 14 August 1986


 * 15 August 1986


 * 16 August 1986

Group D

 * 14 August 1986


 * 15 August 1986


 * 16 August 1986

Group E
Preliminary round results apply.


 * 18 August 1986


 * 19 August 1986

Group F
Preliminary round results apply.


 * 18 August 1986


 * 19 August 1986

Group G
Preliminary round results apply.


 * 18 August 1986


 * 19 August 1986

Group H
Preliminary round results apply.


 * 18 August 1986


 * 19 August 1986

13th – 15th places (Group L)
Results of previous rounds apply.


 * 21 August 1986


 * 22 August 1986

9th – 12th places (Group K)
Results of previous rounds apply.


 * 21 August 1986


 * 22 August 1986

5th – 8th places (Group J)
Results of previous rounds apply.


 * 21 August 1986


 * 22 August 1986