[2] In the world league, there are specific rules that do not allow matches to end in a draw.
The teams were placed into groups based on their performance in the 2011 FINA Men's Water Polo World League along with Great Britain, host of the 2012 Olympic tournament.
USA and Brazil, the top two teams, advanced to the Super Final.
The first round-robin will be held from 1–5 May 2012 at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai and the second round-robin will be held from 8–12 May 2012 at the Chiba International Swimming Complex in Narashino, Chiba, Japan.
3 teams equal on points, therefore only the matches between each other are considered to break the tie - FINA By-Law 9.6.3 [2] The Super Final was held on 12–17 June 2012 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.