The 2025–26 European Aquatics Challenger Cup is the 4th edition of the now quaternary water polo competition organised by European Aquatics.
Starting this season, it acts as the fourth tier, due to the introduction of the European Aquatics Conference Cup. The winners of the European Aquatics Challenger Cup automatically qualify for next season's Conference Cup (if they choose to enter).
GZC Donk are the defending champions but will not be defending their title after not entering this season.
Galatasaray SK won their second title after beating EVK Zaibas 13–11 in the final.https://europeanaquatics.org/challenger-cup-men-galatasaray-crowned-champions-in-istanbul-after-downing-zaibas-in-thrilling-final/
Rankings The results were based on the results of the past four seasons.
Associations 13 and below can have six teams qualify. Apart from the distribution based on the rankings, countries could have additional teams participating in the Challenger Cup, as noted below: – Additional teams dropping down from the Conference Cup
RankAssociationPointsTeamsNotes1 Italy99,917.502 Hungary80,4653 Serbia71,5104 Spain69,187.55 Greece59,917.56 Croatia59,642.57 France41,1958 Germany24,812.59 Romania23,817.510 Montenegro18,647.511 Georgia10,292.512 Netherlands5,79013 Turkey5,722.5214 Portugal5,292.5115 Switzerland4,245
RankAssociationPointsTeamsNotes16 Slovenia3,800217 Lithuania3,677.5018 Slovakia3,55519 Great Britain2,280220 Belgium2,170121 Israel1,85022 Cyprus1,49023 Malta1,472224 Finland1,420125 Bosnia and Herzegovina1,190026 Russia1,087.527 Bulgaria37028 Poland317.529 Denmark280
Ranking facts Biggest riseTeam1 Cyprus2822 +62 Portugal1714 +3 Israel2421 Biggest fallTeam1 Russia1326 –132 Bosnia and Herzegovina2025 –53 Denmark2529 –4 New entriesNone Leaving entriesNone
Teams Six teams from countries ranked 13 and below are permitted to enter.
Everyone who enters starts in the qualification round I.
Unlike last season, in the event that a club decides not to enter, the next best ranked team is not allowed to take their place. Qualified teams The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc: League positions of the previous season CC: Transferred from the Conference Cup QR: Transferred from the Conference Cup qualification round I
Entry roundTeamsQualification round II Galatasaray SK (CC QR) Vitória SC (CC QR) EVK Zaibas (CC QR) VK Banja Luka (CC QR)Qualification round I Enka Sport Club (2nd) Heybeliada ASC (3rd) Clube Naval Povoense (5th) Carouge Natation (2nd) AVK Branik Maribor (1st) VK Ljubljana Slovan (2nd) West London Penguin (1st) Welsh Wanderers (3rd) Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois (1st) Hapoel Palram Zvulun (1st) APOEL Nicosia (1st) San Giljan ASC (1st) Sliema ASC (2nd) Cetus Espoo (1st)
Name changes The following teams' names were changed during the season. Original nameNew name Sliema ASC Sliema ASC Nexawin Qualification round II
Rounds and draw dates
Schedule
Phase Draw date Round date Qualification round I 11 August 2025 28–30 November 2025 Qualification round II 8 December 2025 13–15 February 2026 Final classification Final Eight 16 February 2026 12–15 March 2026
Qualification round I
The top two qualify for the next round. The draw was on 11 August 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia. The seeding is based on the club rankings.
Group A 28–30 November 2025, Valletta, Malta.
Group B 28–30 November 2025, Maribor, Slovenia.
Group C 28–30 November 2025, Istanbul, Turkey.
Group D 28–30 November 2025, Mouscron, Belgium.
Qualification round II
The top two teams in each group qualify will advance to the next round. The draw was on 8 December 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia.
Group A 13–15 February 2026, Elektrėnai, Lithuania.
Group B 13–15 February 2026, Maribor, Slovenia.
Group C 13–15 February 2026, Istanbul, Turkey.
Group D 13–15 February 2026, Maribor, Slovenia.
Final classification
9–12th place group 14–15 March 2026, Mouscron, Belgium.
13–18th place group 13–15 February 2026, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Final Eight
The draw was on 16 February 2026 in Zagreb, Croatia. The Final Eight was held in Istanbul by Enka Sport Club from 12–15 March 2026.https://www.instagram.com/p/DVc6w_xiEQA/
Group A
Group B
Knockout stage
7th place match
5th place match
Bracket
Third place game
Final
Notes
See also 2025–26 European Aquatics Champions League 2025–26 European Aquatics Euro Cup 2025–26 European Aquatics Conference Cup 2025 European Aquatics Super Cup 2025–26 European Aquatics Women's Champions League 2025–26 European Aquatics Women's Euro Cup 2025–26 European Aquatics Women's Conference Cup 2025–26 European Aquatics Women's Challenger Cup 2025 European Aquatics Women's Super Cup
References
External links
Official statistics of the tournament