- The Euro Cup Men features a total of 36 teams, while the Challenger Cup Men includes 16 teams, and the Challenger Cup Women comprises of 17 teams.
- Recco Waterpolo are drawn in Group H of Euro Cup with BVSC, Primorje and Terrassa.
- Brescia in Group B with Honved.
- Spandau 04 Berlin batched together with former Champions League winners Szolnok, Panionios and Tenerife.
Excitement is already building for the upcoming water polo season following the draw for the Euro Cup Men, Challenger Cup Men, and Women’s Qualification Rounds, held in Zagreb. Several thrilling matchups have been confirmed, setting the stage for intense competition early in the tournament.
In the Euro Cup Men, teams that were eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers will join forces with fresh contenders. The qualification round promises an exciting lineup of matches, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Group Stage.
Perhaps the most intriguing contest comes from Group H, where Hungary’s BVSC, after a series of intense battles with Radnicki and Mladost in the Champions League Group stage, will face the Italian powerhouse Recco, alongside Primorje Rijeka and Terrassa. Despite Recco’s withdrawal from the Champions League due to financial challenges, the team has found a way to stay competitive in the Euro Cup, keeping its core players intact. Recco, the 2023 Champions League runner-up, will face stiff competition from Primorje (Euro Cup runners-up) and Terrassa (2023 Challenger Cup finalists), making Group H a must-watch.
In the Challenger Cup Men, a unique decision has been made to host two groups at a single venue in November, promising consolidated action and heightened excitement. Meanwhile, the Challenger Cup Women will see the action spread across four venues, with several teams from developing water polo nations eager to make their mark.
Euro Cup Men
Qualification Round (September 26–2)
Group A – Sabac
VK Sabac (SRB), CS Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU), Team Strasbourg (FRA), OSC Potsdam (GER), OSC Budapest (HUN)
Group B – Budva
AN Brescia (ITA), VK Banja Luka (BIH), Endo Plus Service Honved (HUN), VK Valis Vega (SRB), Budvanska Rivijera (MNE)
Group C – Barcelona
CN Barcelona (ESP), Vouliagmeni NC (GRE), VK Solaris (CRO), Iren Genova Quinto (ITA)
Group D – Zagreb
HAVK Mladost (CRO), Enka Istanbul (TUR), GS Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), CN Sant Andreu (ESP), VA Cattaro Kotor (MNE)
Group E – Athens
Spandau 04 (GER), Szolnoki Dozsa-Praktiker (HUN), Panionios GSS (GRE), CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP)
Group F – Aix-en-Provence
VK Jug AO Dubrovnik (CRO), Pays d’Aix Natation (FRA), SV Ludwigsburg 08 (GER), Panathinaikos AC (GRE), De Akker Team (NED)
Group G – Kranj
Ortigia 1928 (ITA), PAOK Saloniki (GRE), AVK Triglav Kranj (SLO), ASC Duisburg (GER)
Group H – Budapest
BVSC-Zuglo (HUN), Recco Waterpolo (ITA), Primorje EB Rijeka (CRO), CN Terrassa (ESP)
Challenger Cup Men
Qualification Round (November 1–3)
Group A – Sliema
Vitoria Sport Clube (POR), Cetus Espoo (FIN), GZC Donk (NED), Welsh Wanderers (GBR)
Group B – Novaky
EVK Zaibas (LTU), ZV De Zaan (NED), Apoel Nicosia (CYP), Hapoel Palram Zvulun (ISR)
Group C – Sliema
Carouge Natation (SUI), ASA Tel Aviv (ISR), Clube Fluvial Portuense (POR), Sliema ASC (MLT)
Group D – Novaky
KVP Novaky (SVK), RD Mouscronnois (BEL), AVK Slovan Olimpija (SLO), Limassol NC (CYP)
Challenger Cup Women
Qualification Round (November 7–10)
Group A – Novi Sad (SRB)
Izmir BSB Spor (TUR), VK Vojvodina (SRB), City of Manchester WPC (GBR), Sliema ASC (MLT)
Group B – Valetta (MLT)
Sirens ASC Malta (MLT), VK Jadran Split (CRO), SV Blau-Weiss Bochum (GER), Hapoel Emek Hayarden (ISR)
Group C – Strakonice (CZE)
ZAVK Mladost (CRO), AJF Strakonice (CZE), Otter Swimming Club (GBR), Dalton Koleji SK (TUR)
Group D – Alba Iulia (ROU)
ZVK Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Sport Lisboa E Benfica (POR), SSV Esslingen (GER), Galatasaray SK (TUR), CSM Unirea Alba Iulia (ROU)