The Regional Water Polo League — one of the strongest club competitions outside the Champions League — will not be held in the 2025/26 season.
After a series of meetings, the national federations of Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro failed to agree on a competition format for the upcoming year. At the latest meeting, the Croatian federation proposed a one-year suspension, which was accepted by all parties. Discussions on the league’s future will resume at the end of next season, with the possibility of a return in 2026/27.
Disagreements Over Format
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional League has undergone several changes in structure. Last season, it returned to a standard double round-robin regular season, culminating in a Final Four. The standings determined the seedings of Serbian, Croatian, and Montenegrin clubs ahead of their national championship playoffs.
The Serbian federation pushed for a new system — replacing the full regular season with final tournaments for the top teams, with qualification based on national league results. Croatia rejected the proposal, preferring a one-year pause.
Montenegro submitted its own reform plan, including relocating the league office from Zagreb to Podgorica, establishing a board with business leaders, and introducing prize money. While promising on paper, the proposal came too late in the year to be viable. With only five senior clubs, Montenegro is likely to be the nation most affected by the absence of the Regional League.
Financial and Calendar Pressures
The core reasons for the suspension are clear: finances and an overcrowded calendar.
The league has long been considered a valuable competitive platform, but participation costs are high, prize money has never been introduced, and sponsorship has been minimal — just two sponsors over the past 12 years. The competition is not part of the European Aquatics structure, meaning it offers no qualification path to continental tournaments.
Adding to the strain, the 2026 European Championships will take place in Belgrade in January, eating into two months normally reserved for club competition. Combined with an already demanding international calendar, fitting in a full Regional League season proved unworkable without significant resources.
National Leagues Take Centre Stage
In Serbia, clubs will now compete in a 12-team national Super League, kicking off at the end of September. A further change is planned for 2026/27, when the league will be reduced to 10 teams. For some clubs, strengthening the national championship is a priority — though questions remain over whether there are truly 12 competitive teams at the top level.
Similar issues have plagued Croatia in recent years, with many clubs going entire seasons without facing top teams like Jadran Split, Mladost, or Jug Dubrovnik due to the competition format.
A Storied Competition in Limbo
Founded in 2009 with clubs from Croatia, Montenegro, and Slovenia, the Regional League expanded in 2014 to include Serbian teams. Slovenian clubs have continued to make occasional appearances in the second-tier A1 League.
In sporting terms, the league has been an undeniable success, often cited as the highest-quality club competition in the world outside the Champions League. It has provided players with valuable development opportunities and given fans memorable rivalries.
But without a stable financial model, prize incentives, or integration into the wider European competition pathway, the league’s future has been uncertain for years.
For now, Radnički — the 2024/25 champions — will hold the title for at least two seasons. Whether they will be the final winners in the league’s history remains to be seen.
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