After the European club competition draws, the focus shifted to youth water polo as the draws for the European U20 Championships were held at the European Aquatics Water Polo Office in Zagreb.
The men’s tournament will be played in two divisions, while the women’s U20 championship will take place as a single event. The 2026 edition also marks the return of the Russian national teams to European competition after more than four years of suspension.
Men’s U20 – Elite Division
Varna, Bulgaria | August 10–16
Seedings were based on the final standings at the 2024 European U19 Championships in Burgas, where Croatia won gold ahead of Montenegro.
Sub-division 1
Group A: Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Greece
Group B: Montenegro, Spain, Germany, Serbia
Sub-division 2
Group C: Türkiye, Bulgaria, France, Slovenia
Group D: Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Czech Republic
The top two teams from Groups A and B advance directly to the quarterfinals. The third- and fourth-placed teams will play crossover matches against the leading teams from Groups C and D.
Men’s U20 – Division 1
Oeiras, Portugal | August 10–16
The top two teams will earn promotion to the 2026 Elite Division, replacing the bottom two teams from Varna.
Group A: Israel, Ukraine, Switzerland, Great Britain, Belgium
Group B: Georgia, Poland, Lithuania, Finland, Portugal, Russia
Women’s U20 Championship
Oeiras, Portugal | August 1–7
Twenty teams will compete, split into two subdivisions. Spain are the defending U19 champions, ahead of Hungary and Greece.
Sub-division 1
Group A: Spain, Greece, Italy, Israel
Group B: Hungary, Croatia, Netherlands, France
Sub-division 2
Group C: Germany, Malta, Russia
Group D: Ukraine, Romania, Portugal
Group E: Great Britain, Czech Republic, Ireland
Group F: Türkiye, Serbia, Switzerland
The winners of Groups C, D, E and F will enter crossover matches against the third- and fourth-placed teams from Groups A and B. The top two teams from Groups A and B qualify directly for the quarterfinals.
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