For the team competitions, the best ranked NOC in each of the five continental championships, with the exception of the host country Brazil which represented the Pan American continent, obtained a secured place for the Games, while the remaining NOCs battled out for the three highest-ranked spots at the Olympic Qualification Tournament. For the duet, the best ranked NOC in each of the five continental championships that did not have a qualified team assured a secured spot, while the other eleven top-ranked NOCs were selected through Olympic Qualification Tournament. All eight NOCs that had already qualified in the team event must each automatically selected two synchronized swimmers to form a duet.[2]
