For smaller water polo nations, it may make sense in the long term to change the mode so that they increasingly meet teams with whom they can compete on equal terms. Of course, such games are fun for all involved, but especially on the side of the losing team, the motivation is relatively dampened even before the tournament starts. The bottom line is that such games don't do much for either side.

An important aspect in the future will be technology. What can be taken over from other sports and what will bring valuable insights to both the player and the coach, which will then flow back into training. VR and real-time analysis are just two of many other points.