Dominance of European and World Champions at the Opening of the Men’s Water Polo Championship

Belgrade, January 10, 2026 – The 37th Men’s European Water Polo Championship in Belgrade officially got underway with a match between the reigning European champions, Spain, and Israel, who made their European Championship debut in Split in 2022.

Spain opened the tournament with a convincing 28–3 victory over Israel, securing their first three points in Group C. Granados led the scoring with six goals, while Munariz added five. Hungary also delivered a dominant performance, defeating France 15–7. Hungary’s captain Munariz stood out with four goals, while Vernoux scored five times for France.

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The final match of the day, between the Netherlands and Serbia, proved to be the most dramatic. After a penalty shootout, Olympic champions Serbia emerged victorious, winning 18–16. Dušan Mandić was the standout player of the match with six goals from open play and one from the penalty spot, while Te Riele and Ten Broek impressed for the Netherlands.

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The schedule for the second day of the championship includes the following matches: Turkey vs Italy (12:45, Group D), Romania vs Slovakia (15:15, Group D), Slovenia vs Croatia (18:00, Group B), and Greece vs Georgia (20:30, Group B).

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For the third time in the past ten years, Belgrade has welcomed water polo fans from across Europe as host of the European Championship. The tournament is being covered by more than 200 accredited journalists from all parts of the continent, while over 300 volunteers are ensuring a welcoming atmosphere and flawless organization.

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In the coming days, in addition to top-class matches and the spectacular atmosphere inside the Belgrade Arena, fans can also expect numerous fan activations between games.

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The Media Team of the 37th Men’s European Water Polo Championship has prepared a variety of engaging video content throughout the tournament, offering fans a chance to get to know Europe’s water polo stars from a different perspective via the official social media channels. We invite you to follow the sporting event of the year in Belgrade through these platforms as well.

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Secure your tickets in time!

Tickets for the long-awaited European Championship are available through the Tickets sales network and online at:

https://tickets.rs/tour/european_aquatics_water_polo_championship_men_belgrade_2026_2321

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Ticket prices for the group stage, from Day 1 to Day 6 of the competition, range from 700 to 3,000 RSD for two matches per session. For Days 7, 8, and 9, tickets are available at prices of 700, 900, 1,200, 1,500, 1,900, and 3,000 RSD, depending on seat location, and apply to two or three matches per session. Tickets for three matches per session on Days 10, 11, and 12 range from 900 to 3,500 RSD, while prices for Day 13, featuring two matches per session, range from 700 to 3,000 RSD.

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On Day 14, the semi-final matches will be played, with ticket prices ranging from 1,700 to 6,000 RSD. On the final day, featuring the bronze medal match and the final, tickets are available at prices between 3,000 and 8,000 RSD. Matches are organized by sessions, with one ticket valid for multiple games within the selected session.

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Photos: David Damnjanović