The European Championship in Belgrade, which starts on Saturday, will feature a new format.
There will be no crossover round and quarter-finals. Instead, the top three teams from each group in Phase I will advance to a second group stage, which consists of two groups of six teams. Points from matches between mutual encounters in each group will carry over.
While this format is not entirely new—the same structures were used in the men’s European Championships in 1989 and 1991—coaches have varying opinions about it. Some coaches note that the format can be exhausting, while others praise the new system as fairer because it eliminates the high-pressure quarter-final match, where a single poor performance could derail the hopes of favorites.
At the tournament in Belgrade, Group E in the second phase is expected to be significantly stronger than Group F, based on the names and quality of the participating national teams. Group E will likely include four teams that have recently won medals in major competitions: the Olympic champion and host nation, Serbia; the finalists of last year’s World Championship, Spain and Hungary; and Montenegro. They will probably be joined by France, which is steadily improving and closing in on the top teams, as well as the Netherlands, another rising team.
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36th European Men’s Water Polo Championships, Belgrade
A Group A: Hungary, Montenegro, France, Malta
HUNGARY
Best results: 13-time champion (1926, 1927, 1931, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1974, 1977, 1997, 1999, 2020), seven silver and six bronze medals.
Last five editions – 2024: 4th place; 2022: 2nd place; 2020: 1st place; 2018: 8th place; 2016: 3rd place
All-time statistics at the Europeans (35 appearances): 233 games (176 W, 18 D, 39 L),
Head coach: Zsolt Varga
The most successful nation in water polo history, Hungary, fielded a rejuvenated team at the 2024 European Championships because some of its biggest stars rested at the start of a packed year. Given the circumstances, finishing fourth in Croatia two years ago was a good result for the Hungarian team. However, they did not win a medal in the two tournaments that followed in 2024, finishing seventh at the World Championships and fourth at the Olympic Games.
Unlike 2024, last season was successful for the Hungarians. They won bronze in the World Cup and silver at the World Championships.
The team that will play in Belgrade is younger than the one that was the runner-up at the 2025 WCH in Singapore. However, Hungary has always had many talented players who can take responsibility and step in when others are missing. They proved that in Croatia two years ago.
Krisztian Manhercz (Hungary) Photo by K.Vulovic/Water Polo Federation of Montenegro
Hungary has many medal winners in the water, but on the bench, too. Head coach Zsolt Varga, the 2000 Olympic champion, won five medals at the European Championships, including two titles (1997 and 1999). He is seeking his first European title as a coach, while most of the players are targeting their first European gold. Only Soma Vogel, Daniel Angyal, Szilard Jansik, and Krisztian Manhercz were part of the team that triumphed in Budapest six years ago, when the team was coached by Tamas Marcz.
However, most of them are accustomed to winning trophies at both the national team and club level, with eight players coming from the reigning Champions League winner, Ferencvaros.
MONTENEGRO
Best results: champion (2008), two silver and one bronze medal. Montenegro won 15 medals (3, 8, 4) as a part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro.
Last five editions – 2024: 6th place; 2022: 7th place; 2020: 3rd place; 2018: 6th place; 2016: 2nd place.
All-time statistics (9 appearances): 64 games (39 W, 7 D, 18 L)
Head coach: Dejan Savic.
Since last year, Montenegro has been led by Dejan Savic, the most decorated water polo coach of the 21st century, who previously guided Serbia from 2013 to 2022.
Montenegro has experienced significant success at the European Championships since their debut in 2008, where they won the gold medal. However, following their gold medal in the 2020/21 World League, the Montenegrins have not advanced to the semifinals in major competitions.
Petar Tesanovic of Montenegro Photo: MTB-Photo
Last year, they secured 5th place in the World Cup and finished 6th in the World Championships.
In recent years, Montenegro has undergone several team rejuvenations, resulting in an average team age of 24 for the upcoming competition in Belgrade. The team is young and highly motivated.
Unlike in the early years after their international debut, Montenegro does not currently have any superstars on its roster. The team’s primary objective is to build and prepare a squad capable of competing for medals at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Regardless, this team, featuring several rising stars who have already proven themselves in strong leagues, remains among the medal contenders.
FRANCE
Best result in the history of the ECH: silver medal (1927)
Last five editions – 2024: 9th place; 2022: 6th place; 2020: 13th place; 2018: 12th place; 2016: 9th place.
All-time statistics (19 appearances): 114 games (35 W, 11 D, 68 L)
Head coach: Vjekoslav Kobescak.
Like Hungary and Montenegro, France has a head coach who was a successful player. Vjekoslav Kobescak, a silver medalist with Croatia at the 1996 Olympic Games, returned to the French team a few months ago. Previously, he served as an assistant and adviser.
French water polo has made significant progress over the last seven to eight years, with the national team now regarded by many as part of the “European Big Eight.”
However, only a few results have convincingly demonstrated that France belongs among the top European teams. One major highlight came during the 2022 European Championships, when France surprised by eliminating the Olympic champion, Serbia, in the crossover round and ultimately finished 6th.
The team’s greatest achievement after World War II was securing 4th place at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, where they lost to Croatia in the semifinals after a penalty shootout.
Thomas Vernoux
Photo: European Aquatics / Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
Unfortunately for them, the French did not advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games held in Paris.
In recent years, France has played many closely contested matches against water polo powerhouses; however, it has lost most of them.
Predicting France’s performance can be challenging, especially given the ups and downs over the last few seasons and in recent preparation games.
Some players who were once considered rising talents, such as Vernoux and Bouet, have now become key leaders of the team. The upcoming Belgrade tournament could prove to be a pivotal moment for French water polo.
MALTA
Best result: 14th place (2022).
Last five editions – 2024: 15th place, 2022: 14th place, 2020: 16th place, 2018: 16th place; 2016: 15th place.
All-time statistics (5 appearances): 27 games (2 W, 3 D, 22 L).
Head coach: Milan Cirovic
Since it qualified for the Europeans for the first time, ten years ago, Malta has been a regular participant. However, it has also been a regular underdog.
The Maltese have achieved two victories in regular time and two in shootouts in their 22 European Championships’ games.
Ivan Nagaev Photo by Tom Franic/HAVK Mladost
They will arrive in Belgrade with a strong reinforcement, as the Russian left-handed ace, Ivan Nagaev, was allowed to play for Malta. His joining the team may turn out to be the “X factor” of the team coached by Montenegrin Milan Cirovic.
Malta will likely not pose a significant threat to Hungary and Montenegro. But, last summer, France defeated Malta only after a penalty shootout in a decisive match for the top spot in Group D of the ECH qualifications.
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Group A, Day 1
C Group C: Spain, Serbia, Netherlands, Israel
SPAIN
Best results in the history of the ECH: champion (2024), three silver medals and one bronze.
Last five editions – 2024: 1st place; 2022: 3rd place; 2020: 2nd place; 2018: 2nd place; 2016: 5th place.
All-time statistics at the Europeans (30 appearances): 208 games (102 wins, 22 draws, 84 losses)
Head coach: David Martin.
Spain, the reigning World and European champion, is the only team to have won a medal at each of the four editions of the European Championships during the previous two Olympic cycles.
In 2018, after losing to Serbia in a penalty shootout in the final, the Spaniards won silver in front of a home crowd, ending their 12-year medalless streak at the Europeans.
A new era of success for Spanish men’s water polo began that year. Between 2018 and 2025, the team won medals at nearly every major competition: five at the World Championships (two golds, one silver, and three bronzes), two bronzes in the World League, two titles in the World Cup, and four at the Europeans. However, this generation has yet to achieve the ultimate goal of winning an Olympic medal.
The 2026 European Championships mark another new beginning for the Spaniards, who will face fresh challenges without Felipe Perrone, who was “the brain” of the team for years. The legendary player concluded his outstanding career after securing gold at the World Championships in Singapore.
Despite Perrone’s departure, Spain still boasts many top players, such as the 2025 Total Player Alvaro Granados, Bernat Sanahuja, Alberto Munarriz, and Unai Aguirre. These athletes have played together for a long time on a well-coordinated national team, led by David Martin since 2017.
Alvaro Granados Photo by Krsto Vulovic/WPF of Montenegro
SERBIA
Best results: 5-time champion (2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), one silver and one bronze. Serbia won 15 medals (3, 8, 4) as part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro
Last five editions – 2024: 7th place, 2022: 9th place; 2020: 5th place; 2018: 1st place; 2016: 1st place.
All-time statistics at the Europeans (31 appearances: 21 as YUG and SCG and 10 as SRB): 209 games (147 W, 23 D, 39 L).
Head coach: Uros Stevanovic
The Spanish national team currently holds the role held by Serbia before 2018. Between 2014 and 2018, Serbia dominated 13 major competitions, winning 10 gold medals and two bronze medals. The only tournament in which they did not reach the podium was the 2018 World League.
Since clinching its fourth consecutive European title in 2018, Serbia has won only three medals: a gold medal in the World League in 2019 and two trophies, which are the crowning achievements for any athlete – Olympic titles in 2021 and 2024.
Dusan Mandic Photo by Slobodan Sandic/WPF of Serbia
Following a generational transition after the Tokyo Olympics, Serbia has struggled to reclaim its dominance at the European and World Championships. The team has experienced both highs and lows.
Over the past six years, the Serbian squad has demonstrated strong potential, particularly at the Paris Olympics. However, the Serbs failed to secure medals at other competitions, reaching the semifinals only twice and finishing in fourth place at the 2023 and 2025 World Championships.
Ten years ago, Serbia was a heavy favorite for the title at the 2016 Europeans in Belgrade.
Since then, the situation has changed. But, despite the challenges, Serbia remains among the medal contenders in international competitions. Competing at home could provide extra motivation but may also introduce additional pressure. Nonetheless, the team has players capable of handling high-pressure situations, including a double winner of the Total Player Award, Dusan Mandic, captain Nikola Jaksic and many others.
NETHERLANDS
Best results in the history of the ECH: champion (1950), one bronze
Last five editions – 2024: 11th place; 2022: 11th place; 2020: 15th place; 2018: 10th place; 2016: 12th place.
All-time statistics at the Europeans (30 appearances): 187 matches (62 W, 22 D, 103 L).
Head coach: Branko Mitrovic
The Dutch have been regular participants in the European Championships since 2016, but they haven’t advanced to the top 8 since 1993, and their last top-4 finish dates back to 1974.
The team has sent some signs of progress recently. In 2025, the Dutch qualified for the intercontinental competition for the first time after 24 years, finishing 6th at the World Cup Final Eight.
Photo: WPF of Montenegro
A few weeks ago, at the Rotterdam tournament, they defeated Croatia and caused trouble for Hungary, but lost that game. Although the preparation matches aren’t a good basis for predictions, those performances are encouraging for the Dutch and a signal to Spain and Serbia that they mustn’t underestimate the Netherlands.
Almost all members of the Dutch team play in the top European leagues this season, which is a significant benefit for the squad.
ISRAEL
Best result: 12th place (2022)
Last five editions – 2024: 16th place; 2022: 12th place; 2016 – 2020: didn’t qualify.
All-time statistics (2 appearances): 11 games (1 W, 2 D, 8 L),
Head coach: Tal Grodman
Photo: European Aquatics
The female water polo in Israel has progressed in the last several years, but Israeli men are still very far from the nations that are medal contenders. Israel has achieved its only win in the European Championships debut in 2022 (beating Slovenia 9:5).
Israel has already achieved success by qualifying for the Championships for the third time in a row.
Group C, Day 1
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