For the first time since 1950, Germany will not take part in the Men’s European Water Polo Championships—a landmark moment in the sport’s continental history. This is not only the first absence in modern memory, but also the first time Germany has failed to qualify for the tournament through sporting results. The only two previous absences (1947 and 1950) were the result of post-war political bans on German athletes.
The decisive blow came on the final day of the 2026 European Championship Qualification in Istanbul, where Turkiye edged Germany 17–16 in a dramatic, high-stakes clash for the final qualification spot in Group B. The Turks, who last appeared at the Europeans in 2020, return to the continental stage after a five-year absence—while Germany is left on the outside for the first time in nearly eight decades.
Turkiye led 5–4 after the opening quarter and maintained a narrow 8–7 advantage at halftime. Germany responded with a strong run late in the third period to take a 12–11 lead, but the hosts regained control in the final quarter. A late rally from Germany wasn’t enough to overturn a 17–14 deficit, and Turkiye claimed second place behind group winners Slovakia.
Germany’s defeat follows a challenging period for the national team. Since finishing 12th at the 2024 European Championships in Zagreb and Split, and failing to qualify for the Olympic Games since 2008, the team has struggled to find consistent form on the international stage. Under current head coach Miloš Sekulić, who took over in late 2022 following the death of Petar Porobić, Germany finished 8th and 7th respectively in the 2023 and 2024 World Cups—but failed to perform when it mattered most in qualification.
A Storied Legacy Interrupted
Germany (including its former incarnations as West and East Germany) has been a constant presence at the European Championships since the inaugural edition in 1926, where it won bronze. Between 1954 and 1989, both East and West Germany participated regularly, apart from West Germany’s politically-motivated absence in 1962 when the tournament was held in East German Leipzig.
West Germany won two gold medals (1981, 1989) and a bronze, while East Germany claimed silver in 1985. The reunified German team earned bronze in 1995, its only medal since reunification. In total, German teams have won eight medals in European Championship history.
But the last decade has seen a decline. The once-formidable German side has slipped behind Europe’s top-tier nations, and now, for the first time, will not be present at the continent’s premier tournament by way of performance.
Looking Ahead to Belgrade 2026
The 2026 European Men’s Water Polo Championships will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, and mark the 37th edition of the tournament, which began in 1926.
A total of 16 teams will participate. Fifteen of them competed at the 2024 edition, with Turkiye replacing Germany as the only change. The qualified nations include:
- Automatically qualified (based on 2024 results):
Spain, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania - Qualified via 2026 qualification tournaments:
France, Georgia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta, Israel, Turkiye
Qualification groups were staged across four cities—Kranj (Slovenia), Istanbul (Turkiye), Tbilisi (Georgia), and Gzira (Malta). While the final matches in Groups C and D are yet to be completed at the time of writing, all qualification spots have been determined.
Germany’s failure to reach Belgrade 2026 may prompt a deeper reckoning within the national programme as the country grapples with a generational low point in its water polo history.
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