The road to Europe’s biggest water polo titles begins on Monday, when the draws for the Men’s Champions League and Euro Cup qualification rounds and group stages take place.
Fewer Teams, New Format
European Aquatics has introduced a new competition format with fewer clubs taking part. The group stage structure for both competitions remains the same, but the qualification process has been updated.
2026 Men’s Champions League
Who’s In?
- The champions of the top 10 national leagues – Italy, Hungary, Serbia, Spain, Greece, Croatia, France, Germany, Romania, and Montenegro – are automatically in the group stage.
- The runners-up from those leagues will battle through the qualification round.
Champions League Qualifications
- 10 runners-up are split into three groups (two with three teams, one with four).
- The top two teams from each group move on to the group stage.
- The other four teams drop into the Euro Cup qualifications.
Hosts: Novi Beograd, Sabadell, Mladost Zagreb (Sept. 19–21).
Top Seeds for the Draw:
- Novi Beograd, Brescia, Sabadell headline Pot 1.
- Vasas, Vouliagmeni, Steaua in Pot 2.
- Spandau, Mladost, Primorac, Pays d’Aix in Pot 3/4.
Champions League Group Stage
- 16 teams split into four groups of four.
- Teams are seeded based on European Aquatics Club Rankings.
- Clubs from the same qualification group cannot meet again in the group stage.
Pot 1 highlights: Ferencváros, Pro Recco, Barceloneta, Olympiacos.
Pot 2: Marseille, Jadran Split, Radnički, Oradea.
Pot 3: Waspo Hannover, Jadran Herceg Novi, Qual. winners A & B.
Pot 4: Qual. winner C, 2nd-placed from Groups A, B, C.
2026 Euro Cup
Teams Entering
- 21 clubs will compete.
- The third-placed teams from the top 10 leagues go straight to the group stage, except France after Strasbourg withdrew.
- Fourth-placed teams from nine leagues plus Dinamo Tbilisi, Sport Management (Georgia), and Dutch club ZV De Zaan enter the qualifications.
Euro Cup Qualifications
- Hosts: Apollon Smyrnis, Solaris Šibenik, Terrassa, Montpellier (Oct. 3–5).
- Four group winners + the three best second-placed teams reach the group stage.
- Ranking for best 2nd-placed teams is based on points, goal difference, goals scored, and club ranking.
Pot 1: Champions League qualifiers eliminated.
Pot 2: Dinamo Tbilisi, Crvena Zvezda, Szolnok, Apollon Smyrnis.
Pot 3: Trieste, Solaris, ZV De Zaan, Terrassa.
Pot 4: Montpellier, OSC Potsdam, Rapid Bucharest, Sport Management.
Eliminated teams (except those from CL qualifiers) can enter the new Conference Cup.
Euro Cup Group Stage
- 16 teams in four groups of four.
Pot 1: Savona, Jug Dubrovnik, Barcelona, BVSC.
Pot 2: Šabac, Panathinaikos, ASC Duisburg, Dinamo Bucharest.
Pot 3: Budućnost, Qual. winners A, B, C.
Pot 4: Qual. winner D, three best 2nd-placed teams.
See Waterpolo 360’s Singapore 2025 World Championship Page
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