Funchal 2026: Tickets on sale for women’s European Water Polo Championships

Tickets are now on sale for the women’s 2026 European Water Polo Championships, which will be contested in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira from 26 January to 5 February.

Portugal is set to make history as it hosts the competition for the first time, adding a significant milestone to the tournament’s 21st edition.

This prestigious event will be held at the acclaimed Funchal Olympic Pools Complex. The venue’s modern infrastructure and high-performance facilities provide an ideal stage for top-tier international water polo action, ensuring an exceptional setting for both athletes and spectators.

Tickets for the women’s 2026 European Water Polo Championships can be purchased by clicking here.

Sixteen nations have earned their place at the 2026 Women’s European Water Polo Championships, where they have been arranged into four pools of four teams.

2026 Women’s European Water Polo Championships
Funchal, Portugal (26 Jan–5 Feb)

Group A: Greece, France, Slovakia, Germany
Group B: Hungary, Romania, Spain, Portugal
Group C: Italy, Serbia, Croatia, Türkiye
Group D: Netherlands, Switzerland, Great Britain, Israel

Each group features two teams that finished inside the top eight at the 2024 edition in Eindhoven, alongside two countries that secured their spots through last summer’s qualification events.

Once in Funchal, every team will play a round-robin within its group, with the top two in each pool advancing to the second phase of group play.

At that stage, Groups A and C will merge to create Group E, while Groups B and D will combine to form Group F. All points and results earned in the opening phase will carry forward, and teams will meet fresh opponents in this new round.

The leading two teams from Groups E and F will move on to the semi-finals for positions 1-4, while the third- and fourth-placed sides will compete in the play-offs for positions 5-8.

Meanwhile, teams that placed third and fourth in the initial group phase will be reorganised into two additional pools – Groups G and H – before crossover matches determine the rankings from 9th to 16th.

The full schedule for the women’s water polo tournament can be viewed by clicking here and European Aquatics looks forward to welcoming you all to Madeira in January.

Watch water polo action live on European Aquatics TV

Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram

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