The race took place at 08:00 on 20 July at the Seaside Momochi Beach Park in
Fukuoka, Japan. The water temperature was around and the air temperature was about . By the 3700-metre mark (700 metres into the third leg), Australia was leading the race with
Nicholas Sloman, who was sixteen seconds ahead of Germany's
Rob Muffels. Australia's
Kyle Lee entered the water at the final changeover with a lead of seven seconds on
Italy's
Gregorio Paltrinieri and Hungary's
Dávid Betlehem. Lee was overtaken by Paltrinieri and Betlehem, and Paltrinieri and Betlehem continued to race to the finish. Paltrinieri won for Italy with a time of 1:10:31.2, while Hungary finished second with 1:10:35.3. Australia finished third with 1:11.26.9, two tenths of a second ahead of Germany in fourth. A photo finish was needed to determine whether Australia or Germany won the bronze. It was the first time Italy had won an open water team event at the
World Championships. == Notes ==