The 2025/26 season in the European cups starts in the third week of September, with the Champions League qualifications, which will take place between September 19 and 21.
The draws for both the Qualifications and the Group Stage were held in Zagreb today. Additionally, the Euro Cup draw took place.
Champions League Qualification Round (September 19 – 21)
Since the number of participating teams has been reduced, getting through to the group stage from the qualifiers is, at first glance, much easier than before. However, on the other hand, there are no underdogs; almost every one of the ten participating clubs is a contender for the six Champions League berths.
The top two teams from each of the three groups will advance to the Champions League, and the remaining four teams will continue their seasons in the Euro Cup qualifications.
The only group with four teams will be the one in Belgrade. Novi Beograd, the runner-up in the 2025 Champions League, will host Steaua Bucharest, Primorac Kotor, and Pays d’Aix.
The most balanced group, at first glance, is Group C, where Mladost Zagreb will welcome Greek Vouliagmeni and Italian Brescia.
Group A (Belgrade): Novi Beograd (SRB), Steaua Bucharest (ROU), Primorac Kotor (MNE), Pays d’Aix (FRA).
Group B (Sabadell): Sabadell (ESP), Vasas (HUN), Spandau 04 (GER).
Group C (Zagreb): Brescia (ITA), Vouliagmeni (GRE), Mladost Zagreb (CRO).
Champions League Group Stage (October 14/15 – February 10/11)
Six teams from the qualifications will join the ten national champions already qualified for the Group Stage.
We will have a complete picture of the groups after the qualifications, but it’s possible that the finalists of the 2025 Champions League, Ferencvaros and Novi Beograd, meet in this stage if Novi Beograd wins first place in the qualifications on its home field.
Pro Recco, the 2025 Euro Cup winner, will play against two Jadrans – from Split and Herceg Novi. Recco’s third opponent will be the 2nd-placed in the qualification group in Belgrade
Group A: Olympiacos (GRE), Radnicki (SRB), Winner of QR Gr. B, Winner of QR Gr.C.
Group B: Pro Recco (ITA), Jadran Split (CRO), Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE), 2nd-placed of QR Gr. A.
Group C: Ferencvaros (HUN), Oradea (ROU), Winner of QR Group A, 2nd-placed of QR Gr. C.
Group D: Barceloneta (ESP), Marseille (FRA), Waspo 98 Hannover (GER), 2nd-placed of QR Gr. B.
Euro Cup Qualification Round (October 3 – 5)
Sixteen teams will play in the Euro Cup Qualifications – twelve that entered the competition according to their results in the 2025 season, and the four eliminated teams from the Champions League Qualifications.
Group A (Athens): 3rd-placed in CHL QR Gr.B, Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), ZV De Zaan (NED), Sport Management (GEO)
Group B (Montpellier): 3rd-placed in CHL QR Gr. C, Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Trieste (ITA), Montpellier (FRA)
Group C (Sibenik): 3rd-placed in CHL QR Gr. A, Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO), Solaris (CRO), Rapid Bucharest (ROU)
Group D (Terrassa): 4th-placed in CHL QR Gr. A, Szolnok (HUN), Terrassa (ESP), OSC Potsdam (GER).
The four group winners and the three best second-placed clubs will advance to the Euro Cup Group Stage.
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.
Eliminated teams (excluding those that participated in the Champions League Qualification) will have the opportunity to enter the newly launched Conference Cup.
Euro Cup Group Stage
Group A: Jug Dubrovnik (CRO), ASC Duisburg (GER), Winner of QR Gr. C, Winner of QR Gr. D.
Group B: Barcelona (ESP), Dinamo Bucharest (ROU), Winner of QR Gr. B, the 3rd-highest ranked 2nd-placed team in QR
Group C: BVSC Budapest (HUN), Panathinaikos (GRE), Buducnost (MNE), the 1st-highest ranked 2nd-placed team in QR
Group D: Savona (ITA), Sabac (SRB), Winner of QR Gr. A, the 2nd-highest ranked 2nd-placed team in QR
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