The 2025–26 European Aquatics Women's Challenger Cup is the 3rd edition of the water polo competition organised by European Aquatics.
Starting this season, it acts as the fourth tier, due to the introduction of the European Aquatics Women's Conference Cup.
The winners of the European Aquatics Challenger Cup automatically qualify for next season's Conference Cup (if they choose to enter).
Izmir BSB Spor (now named Goztepe SK) are the defending champions. Goztepe SK defended and won their third title after beating Jadran Split 16–7 in the final in Cottonera.
Rankings The results were based on the results of the past four seasons.
Associations 7–12 can have two teams ranked 4th and 5th qualify. Associations 13 and below can have four 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 Spain146,06502 Greece127,3603 Hungary91,557.54 Italy80,282.55 Netherlands30,9656 France29,7607 Germany12,87018 Turkey11,2959 Croatia8,430010 Portugal6,940
RankAssociationPointsTeamsNotes11 Serbia6,280112 Malta5,700013 Israel5,215114 Great Britain4,93015 Czech Republic1,83016 Slovakia1,71517 Romania1,610018 Sweden1,06019 Bulgaria770
Ranking facts Biggest riseTeam1 Turkey138 +52 Czech Republic1915 +43 Israel1613 +3 Biggest fallTeam1 Malta1012 –2 Slovakia14162 France67 –1 Portugal910 Sweden1718 Bulgaria1819 New entries Romania Leaving entries Russia
Teams The teams finishing in fourth and fifth from national leagues ranked 7–12 and four 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.Competition regulations 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 Goztepe SK (CC QR) San Giljan ASC (CC QR) Jadran Split (CC QR) ZVK Crvena Zvezda (CC QR) Clube Fluvial (CC QR) Dalton Koleji SK (CC QR) Sirens ASC (CC QR) Qualification round I SSV Esslingen (3rd) ODTÜ SC (4th) Nevşehir Belediye SK (5th) ZVU Partizan (3rd) Hapoel Emek Hayarden (2nd) Otter London (3rd) AJ Fezko Strakonice (1st) Slavia UK Bratislava WP (1st)
Name changes The following teams' names were changed during the season.
Rounds and draw dates
Schedule
Phase Draw date Round date Qualification round I 11 August 2025 14–16 November 2025 Qualification round II 8 December 2025 5–8 March 2026 Final classification Final Four 21–22 March 2026
Qualification round I
The top two qualify for the next round. There was no draw, rather the groups were pre-selected for geographical reasons on 11 August 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia.
Group A 5–7 December 2025, Strakonice, Czech Republic.
Group B 5–7 December 2025, Belgrade, Serbia.
Qualification round II
The top two qualify for the next round. The draw was held on 8 December 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia.https://europeanaquatics.org/challenger-cup-water-polo-route-to-mens-and-womens-finals-revealed-after-qualification-round-ii-draw/
Group A 5–8 March 2026, Cottonera, Malta.
Group B 5–8 March 2026, Izmit, Turkey.
Final classification
20–22 March 2026, Cottonera, Malta.
Final Four
The Final Four was held on 21–22 March 2026. The Cottonera Sports Complex in Cottonera, Malta, hosted the Final Four.
Bracket
Third place game
Final
2025–26 European Aquatics Women's Challenger Cup Champions Goztepe SKThird title
Notes
See also 2025–26 European Aquatics Champions League 2025–26 European Aquatics Euro Cup 2025–26 European Aquatics Conference Cup 2025–26 European Aquatics Challenger 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 European Aquatics Women's Super Cup
References
External links
Official website Official statistics of the tournament