The field is now complete for the 2026 Women’s European Water Polo Championships after a weekend of decisive action across four qualification venues. With Switzerland defeating Ukraine 12–8 in the final game of the qualifiers, the last remaining place at the tournament has been claimed.
Over the course of two intense days, eight nations emerged from the qualification phase, joining the eight pre-qualified teams — including the hosts and top-ranked European sides — to complete the 16-team line-up for one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions.
Confirmed Teams for the 2026 Women’s European Water Polo Championships
Qualified via 2024 European Championships (Eindhoven, January 2024):
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Greece
- Italy
- Hungary
- France
- Great Britain
- Croatia
Qualified via 2025 Qualification Tournaments (June 6–8, 2025):
- Portugal (Setúbal)
- Romania (Setúbal)
- Germany (Hannover)
- Türkiye (Hannover)
- Serbia (Novi Sad)
- Switzerland (Novi Sad)
- Israel (Nováky)
- Slovakia (Nováky)
These nations will join the eight automatic qualifiers, expected to include: Hungary, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, France, Croatia, and host nation Israel (though Israel’s participation as hosts overlaps with their qualification performance).
Group-by-Group Recap
Group A (Setúbal, Portugal)
Portugal dominated on home soil, securing two confident wins to top the group, including a comprehensive 18–12 victory over Czechia. Romania edged Czechia 12–11 in the tightest game of the group to claim the second spot. Czechia, despite their efforts, leave empty-handed.
Final standings:
- Portugal – 6 pts
- Romania – 3 pts
- Czechia – 0 pts
Group B (Hannover, Germany)
Germany lived up to expectations in Hannover, comfortably beating both Malta and Türkiye. The Turkish side recovered from their opening defeat with a dominant performance against Malta to seal second place.
Final standings:
- Germany – 6 pts
- Türkiye – 3 pts
- Malta – 0 pts
Group C (Novi Sad, Serbia)
Hosts Serbia produced the most convincing group-stage campaign, scoring 72 goals in three matches and conceding just 16. Switzerland bounced back from an early loss to Serbia with narrow but effective wins over both Ukraine and Finland. Ukraine’s 12–8 loss to the Swiss on Sunday confirmed their elimination, despite having previously overwhelmed Finland.
Final standings:
- Serbia – 9 pts
- Switzerland – 6 pts
- Ukraine – 3 pts
- Finland – 0 pts
Group D (Nováky, Slovakia)
Israel secured top spot in Group D with back-to-back wins over Slovakia and Sweden, confirming both their qualification and their rising status within European women’s water polo. Slovakia’s win over Sweden was enough to take second place. Sweden, winless, finished bottom.
Final standings:
- Israel – 6 pts
- Slovakia – 3 pts
- Sweden – 0 pts
A Tournament Taking Shape
The eight qualified teams will now prepare to join Europe’s elite in Netanya next year, with the group stage draw expected to take place later this year. The format will feature four groups of four, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals.
Israel’s hosting of the event — the first major European water polo tournament to be held in the country — adds a fresh dimension to the 2026 edition, and with the likes of Hungary, Spain, and Italy waiting in the wings, the level of competition will be as fierce as ever.
For emerging teams like Switzerland, Romania, and Slovakia, the opportunity to compete on such a stage represents a chance to bridge the gap between themselves and Europe’s established powers. For others, such as Serbia, Germany, and Türkiye, the goal will be to make a significant impact beyond the group phase.
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