All eyes were on the magnificent island of Madeira this Thursday, as the draw for the 2026 Women’s European Water Polo Championships was conducted in Funchal. European Aquatics dignitaries, officials, and representatives from the 16 qualified nations gathered for the ceremony, which determined the group structure for the 21st edition of this prestigious tournament.
Fans from across the continent tuned in live via the European Aquatics YouTube channel to watch the eagerly anticipated proceedings, which set the stage for an exciting championship.
The Groups
Group A
- Greece (GRE)
- France (FRA)
- Slovakia (SVK)
- Germany (GER)
Group B
- Hungary (HUN)
- Romania (ROU)
- Spain (ESP)
- Portugal (POR)
Group C
- Italy (ITA)
- Serbia (SRB)
- Croatia (CRO)
- Türkiye (TUR)
Group D
- Netherlands (NED)
- Switzerland (SUI)
- Great Britain (GBR)
- Israel (ISR)
Tournament Structure
The 16 nations are divided into four groups of four. Each group contains two teams from the top eight finishers at the previous edition in Eindhoven 2024, along with two teams that battled their way through the qualification tournaments earlier this summer.
In the first stage, teams will face each other in a round-robin format. The top two sides from each group will advance to the second group stage:
- Groups A and C merge into Group E
- Groups B and D merge into Group F
Results from the opening stage will carry over into this phase, adding extra weight to every early performance. The top two from Groups E and F will reach the semi-finals for places 1–4, while the 3rd and 4th placed teams in these groups will contest the 5th–8th semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the 3rd and 4th placed teams from the initial group stage will continue their campaign in new pools (Groups G and H), before crossover matches decide the final 9th–16th classifications.
What’s at Stake
Beyond national pride and the prestigious European title, the 2026 edition introduces new MVP awards for both the men’s and women’s competitions. After each semi-final, the bronze medal match, and the final, standout individuals will be recognised. A panel of experts will also select a Tournament Seven, honouring the best players across all positions.
Qualified Nations
- Top eight from Eindhoven 2024: Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Italy, Hungary, France, Great Britain, Croatia.
- Qualified via tournaments: Portugal, Germany, Serbia, Israel, Romania, Türkiye, Switzerland, Slovakia.
The draw promises some thrilling early battles, with heavyweight clashes such as Italy vs Serbia, Hungary vs Spain, and Greece vs France lighting up the first stage. Meanwhile, newcomers Portugal and Switzerland will be eager to make their mark on the big stage.
With Madeira now set as the battleground, anticipation is building for what promises to be one of the most competitive European Championships in recent history.