The Aspire Dome will become a pressure cooker for the next eight days of artistic swimming competition at the World Aquatics Championships with one chance left to punch a ticket to the Olympics.

After the scores have been totted up in Doha, we will know the entire field for the Olympics that will feature 18 duets and 10 teams.

While Paris 2024 qualification will be the top priority for many nations, world titles will be the sole focus for others.

Athletes will contest for medals in the Women Solo Technical, Men Solo Technical, Women Solo Free, Men Solo Free, Women Duet Free, Mixed Duet Free, Women Duet Technical, Women Duet Free, Team Technical, Team Free and Acrobatic Routine.

Let’s take a look at the countries and artistic swimmers that are expected to dazzle in Doha

Japan

Image Source: Rising artistic swimming star Moe Higa competing at World Juniors (Antoine Saito/World Aquatics)

There might be no Yukiko Inui, the four-time world champion who retired following her success at Fukuoka 2023, but Japan is expected to be in amongst the medals again.

The Japanese team made home advantage count last year as they topped the overall standings and will have high hopes in Doha.

Moe Higa and Mashiro Yasunaga will be the Asian nation’s big medal hopes having captured the Women Duet Technical title and helped Japan win Team Free gold in Fukuoka.

Spain

Image Source: Spain's Emma Garcia and Dennis Gonzalez Boneu competing at Artistic Swimming Mixed Duet Technical at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka

Qualification for Paris 2024 will be the target for Spain who will be aiming to repeat their success at last year’s World Aquatics Championships.

A total of seven medals were captured by Spain in Fukuoka including golds for Dennis Gonzalez Boneu and Fernando Diaz del Rio Soto in the respective Men Solo Free and Men Solo Technical events as well as the Team Technical title.

Spain are also the reigning European champions in Team Technical and Team Free as they look to back up a sensational 2023.

People’s Republic of China

Image Source: Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics

It is hard to ignore the Chinese team who topped the medal standings at Budapest 2022 and ranked third behind Japan and Spain at Fukuoka 2023.

The People’s Republic of China have booked their place in Paris but will be seeking to defend their Team Free and Team Acrobatic crowns.

Cheng Wentao and Haoyu Shi are also teaming up again as they bid for back-to-back Mixed Duet Free titles in Doha.

United States of America

Image Source: USA's Bill May and Kristina Lum-Underwood compete in the Mixed Duet Free final at the 16th World Aquatics Championships (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

With a place in the Women’s Duet already wrapped up, the United States of America will have their eyes fixed on securing a Team quota at Paris 2024.

Bill May, the trailblazing 45-year-old who made history in 2015 by becoming the first man to win a world artistic swimming title, is hoping to make his Olympic dream come true with success in Doha.

The American team impressed in Fukuoka with four medals – a tally they will be looking to improve in the Qatari capital.

Ukraine

Image Source: Ukraine's Vladyslava Aleksiiva and Maryna Aleksiiva in action at the World Aquatics Championships (Tsutomu Kishimoto/Wolrd Aquatics)

Three-time world champions Maryna Aleksiiva and Vladyslava Aleksiiva will lead Ukraine’s charge in Doha as they attempt to return to the podium.

The twin sisters won silvers in the Women Duet Free and Women Duet Technical and steered Ukraine to glory in the Team Free and Team Highlight at Budapest 2022.

They will now be hoping to seal Ukraine’s spot at the Olympic Games.