Water polo enthusiasts are bracing for a series of high-stakes clashes as the qualifying rounds for the Euro Cup 24 and the Challenger Cup have been drawn in Netanya. The draws, conducted by LEN officials, have set the stage for intense competition across both men’s and women’s tournaments, involving over 60 teams eager to make their mark in European club water polo.
The Euro Cup 24 Men’s Qualification promises some truly unmissable encounters. Group D stands out with a trio of teams – Radnicki (SRB), Oradea (ROU), and Primorje (CRO) – all seeking to advance from the Champions League qualifications, alongside fellow Croatian side Solaris. In Group F, an all-Italian showdown between Savona and Palermo, joined by Serbia’s Partizan, is already circled on calendars. Further excitement brews in Group G, where Champions League qualification contenders CN Barcelona (ESP) and Apollon (GRE) are set to face the formidable Croatian team, Mladost. Defending Euro Cup champions Vasas will have a challenging path in Group B against Hungarian rivals BVSC and Spain’s Mataro. Adding to the intrigue, Group E sees two Hungarian Champions League entrants, OSC and Honved, pitted against each other after narrowly missing progression in the Champions League qualifiers. Group H is also poised for drama with Hannover (GER) and Primorac (MNE), both fresh from tough Champions League qualifying experiences, facing stiff competition from Spain’s Terrassa and two Greek teams.
While the Euro Cup 24 garners significant attention, the Challenger Cup is also shaping up to be fiercely competitive. This tournament serves as a vital development platform for federations ranked 13th or lower in Europe, and 7th or below for women. It offers invaluable international competition experience for clubs from nations looking to grow their presence in European water polo.
Euro Cup 24 Men, Qualification Round (September 22-24)
Group A (Sabac): CC Ortigia (ITA), VK Sabac Elixir (SRB), CN Noisy-Le-Sec (FRA), VK Valis Vega (SRB), Dinamo Bucharest (ROU)
Group B (Budapest): A-Hid VasasPlaket (HUN), BVSC-Zuglo (HUN, host), Ludwigsburg (GER), CN Mataro (ESP)
Group C (Tourcoing): Szolnoki Dozsa-Praktiker (HUN), EN Tourcoing (FRA), Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA), Pays d’Aix Natation (FRA)
Group D (Rijeka): Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB), CSM Oradea (ROU), VK Solaris (CRO), Primorje Erste Bank Rijeka (CRO)
Group E (Athens): Genesys-OSC Budapest (HUN), Panionios GSS (GRE), EPS-Honved (HUN), CN Echeyde (ESP), White Sharks Hannover (GER)
Group F (Duisburg): RN Savona (ITA), Telimar Palermo (ITA), VK Partizan Beograd (SRB), ASD Duisburg (GER), Sete Natation (FRA)
Group G (Barcelona): CN Barcelona (ESP), HAVK Mladost Zagreb (CRO), Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), OSC Potsdam (GER)
Group H (Kotor): Waspo 98 Hannover (GER), VK Primorac Kotor (MNE), CN Terrassa (ESP), GS Peristeriou (GRE), Panathinaikos SC (GRE)
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Euro Cup 24 Group Stage.
Challenger Cup Men (October 19-22)
Group A (Porto): Vitoria SC (POR), AVK Triglav Kranj (SLO), Clube Fluvial Portuense (POR), SC Kreuzlingen (SUI), APOEL Nicosia (CYP)
Group B (Mouscron): Carouge Natation (SU), VK Banja Luka (BIH), ODTÜ SC (TUR), RD Mouscronnois (BEL), City of Manchester WPC (GBR)
Group C (Istanbul): Galatasaray SK (TUR), KVP Novaky (SVK), Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR), Polytechnic WP Club (GBR)
Group D (Valletta): ENKA Istanbul (TUR), EVK Zaibas (LTU), Valletta (MLT), KV Komodor (BUL), Cetus Espoo (FIN)
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Challenger Cup quarter-finals.
Challenger Cup Women (October 19-22)
Group A (Novi Sad): ZAVK Mladost (CRO), VK Jadran Split (CRO), VK Vojvodina (SRB), ODTÜ SC (TUR), City of Manchester WPC (GBR)
Group B (Strakonice): Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR), Hapoel Emek HaYarden (ISR), Izmir Büyüksehir SK (TUR), AJF Strakonice (CZE), Jarfalla (SWE)
Group C (Blagoevgrad): Sirens ASC Malta (MLT), Clube Fluvial Portuense (POR), ZVK Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Otter Swimming Club (GBR), KVT Lokomotiv-N. Nanov (BUL)
The top two teams from each group will proceed to the Challenger Cup Final 6.
