The men's K-4 1000 metres event was a fours kayaking event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1972 Summer Olympics program.
The top three finishers from each of the heats advanced directly to the semifinals while the remaining 11 teams were relegated to the repechage heats.
Taking place on September 7, The top three competitors in each of the two repechages advanced to the semifinals.
The top three finishers in each of the three semifinals (raced on September 8) advanced to the final.
The Soviet Union's position at 500 meters in the second semifinal is missing in the official report.