Euro Cup Qualifications: Every goal matters

October 2, 2025

Photo by VK Novi Beograd

Over the next three days, we will find out all the teams participating in the Group Stage of the 2026 European Cup.

The qualifications will begin tomorrow in Athens, Montpellier, Sibenik, and Terrassa, with four teams competing at each tournament.

Seven teams will advance to the Group Stage: the group winners and the top three second-placed teams. Every point and goal will be important, as the goal difference and total number of goals could be decisive in determining the three best second-placed teams.

Teams that do not advance to the Group Stage will have the opportunity to compete in the second stage of a newly formed Conference Cup. However, this does not apply to clubs that participated in the Champions League qualifications: Steaua, Pays d’Aix, Spandau 04, and Vouliagmeni.

2025/26 Euro Cup, Qualifications

GROUP A (Athens): Spandau 04 (GER), Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), ZV De Zaan (NED), Sport Management (GEO).

The host team, Apollon, has reshaped its roster by signing eight new players and is expected to be a frontrunner along with Spandau 04 for the top two spots. Spandau performed well in the Champions League qualifications but did not advance due to two one-goal losses to Vasas and Sabadell. The Greeks and the Germans will meet on Day 1, so we may already find out which team is the strongest in the group by tomorrow.

Sport Management is a relatively new club making its international debut. Last season, it won the Georgian League, ending a long reign by Dinamo Tbilisi, a multiple Champions League participant, and signed several experienced players. Former Dutch champion ZV De Zaan reached the Challenger Cup semifinals last year. Their ambitions probably rose after that result.

Day 1 (October 3): ZV de Zaan – Sport Management (18:00 – CET), Apollon – Spandau (20:00 – CET)

GROUP B (Montpellier): Vouliagmeni (GRE), Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Trieste (ITA), Montpellier (FRA).

Almost all teams in this group are contenders for the top two spots.

Crvena Zvezda, the 2013 European champion, features several experienced returnees and newcomers. The Belgrade-based team did not shine in their opening match against Novi Beograd in the VRL League, but it served as good preparation for the Euro Cup.

Trieste, which finished fourth in the 2025 Italian League, made some minor changes to its roster, losing one of its best players, Andrea Mladossich, to Pro Recco, but still boasts a competitive team.

Vouliagmeni, which has significantly rejuvenated its squad, opened the season suffering two losses in the Champions League qualifiers in Zagreb, including a painful 4:16 defeat to Mladost. We will see if the runner-up in the 2025 Greek League can bounce back and stay on the European stage this season.

On paper, Montpellier appears to be the underdog, but as the host team, they will not easily hand points to their rivals.

Day 1 (October 3): Crvena Zvezda – Trieste (18:30), Montpellier – Vouliagmeni (20:30)

GROUP C (Sibenik):Participants: Steaua Bucharest (ROU), Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO), Solaris (CRO), Rapid Bucharest (ROU).

The Sibenik group features Romanian rivals Steaua and Rapid. Steaua, as the runner-up in the national championships, has strengthened its squad and seems closer to reaching the Group Stage than Rapid.

Host Solaris enters the group as the favorite. A home loss to Mornar at the start of the Croatian championships could be a wake-up call for the Sibenik-based team.

Dinamo Tbilisi is starting the season with many new players after losing a few key players. The upcoming tournament will serve as the first test of their capabilities, but the Georgians arrive not just to test themselves, but also to earn points..

Day 1 (October 3): Rapid – Steaua (18:00), Solaris – Dinamo (20:00)

GROUP D (Terrassa): Pays d’Aix (FRA), Szolnok (HUN), Terrassa (ESP), OSC Potsdam (GER).

Terrassa and Szolnok will likely vie for first place. Pays d’Aix, which has a solid team, disappointed in the Champions League qualifications. Still, the French may have saved their best for the Euro Cup qualifications. A very young OSC Potsdam team dreams of surprises.

Day 1 (October 3): Terrassa – OSC Potdsam (19:00), Szolnok – Pays d’Aix (21:00).

The criteria for determining the three highest-ranked second-placed clubs are as follows: 1) the number of points gained in the group, 2) the goal difference in regular time for each game, 3) the total number of goals scored in regular time for each game, and 4) the Club Men Ranking.