European Aquatics made the draw for the Group Stage of the Women’s Champions League 2026/27 on 12 October 2026. It puts 16 clubs into four groups of four, and holders Olympiacos SFP are drawn with Ekipe Orizzonte, the most successful club in the competition’s history, in Group C.
Five former European champions are in the draw: Orizzonte (8 titles), Astralpool CN Sabadell (7), Olympiacos (4), Vouliagmeni NC (2) and CN Sant Andreu (1). Three more clubs have played in a final: FTC Telekom, Assolim CN Mataro and UVSE.
The big picture
Spanish and Greek clubs have won every title of the last five seasons:
- 2022: Olympiacos
- 2023: Sabadell
- 2024: Sabadell
- 2025: Sant Andreu
- 2026: Olympiacos
Olympiacos are the reigning champions. They beat FTC Telekom 14:14 (3:0 on penalties) in the 2026 final at the first joint men’s and women’s Final Four in Malta, their fourth title. Sabadell have been the dominant club since 2011, winning seven times in that period.
The draw was made a day after the Qualification Round, played from 9 to 11 October in Berlin, Dunaujvaros, Glyfada and Sabadell. Eight clubs had direct places in the Group Stage: Olympiacos, Sant Andreu, Mataro, FTC Telekom, Vouliagmeni, Orizzonte, SIS Roma and BVSC. They are joined by eight qualifiers: ZV De Zaan, UVSE, Pallanuoto Trieste, EPlus CN Catalunya, CN Terrassa, Ethnikos OFPF, Sabadell and Rapallo Pallanuoto, as set out in the European Aquatics qualification preview.
Group A: ZV De Zaan, Assolim CN Mataro, UVSE, BVSC Manna ABC
| Club | European record |
|---|---|
| ZV De Zaan | – |
| Assolim CN Mataro | Runner-up 2023 |
| UVSE | Runner-up 2016 |
| BVSC Manna ABC | – |
Group A opens with a Hungarian derby between BVSC and UVSE. UVSE were runners-up in 2016, when they lost the final 11:8 to Sabadell.
Mataro come in as Spanish champions. In June they beat Sant Andreu 10:9 away in Game 3 of the Spanish final to win their third national title, after 2020 and 2024. They also reached the European final in 2023, losing 9:8 to Sabadell. Dutch side De Zaan complete an open group.
Group B: Pallanuoto Trieste, CN Sant Andreu, EPlus CN Catalunya, Vouliagmeni NC
| Club | European record |
|---|---|
| Pallanuoto Trieste | – |
| CN Sant Andreu | 1 title (2025) |
| EPlus CN Catalunya | – |
| Vouliagmeni NC | 2 titles (2009, 2010) |
Group B brings together two former champions and the Euro Cup holders.
Sant Andreu won the title in 2025, beating Sabadell 9:8 in the final. Vouliagmeni won it twice in a row, in 2009 and 2010.
CN Catalunya won the Euro Cup in June. They beat Zodiac CNAB 27:20 on aggregate for their first European trophy, and became the first club to earn a Champions League place by winning the Euro Cup. Trieste return after missing out last season, when they lost a qualification shootout to Rapallo.
Group C: Olympiacos SFP, CN Terrassa, Ethnikos OFPF, Ekipe Orizzonte
| Club | European record |
|---|---|
| Olympiacos SFP | 4 titles, holders |
| CN Terrassa | – |
| Ethnikos OFPF | – |
| Ekipe Orizzonte | 8 titles (record) |
Group C holds 12 titles between two clubs. Orizzonte won eight between 1994 and 2008, and Olympiacos have four.
The holders also face Ethnikos, their Piraeus neighbours. Orizzonte last reached the Final Four in 2023, and reached the semifinals of the Italian league playoffs last season. Terrassa complete the group.
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Group D: Astralpool CN Sabadell, SIS Roma, Rapallo Pallanuoto, FTC Telekom Waterpolo
| Club | European record |
|---|---|
| Astralpool CN Sabadell | 7 titles |
| SIS Roma | – |
| Rapallo Pallanuoto | – |
| FTC Telekom Waterpolo | Runner-up 2026 |
Sabadell have won seven titles and are going through a rebuild, but they came through qualification at home. They face FTC Telekom, last season’s runners-up.
SIS Roma were top seeds in the Italian playoffs last season, and Rapallo also reached the semifinals. Every point will count in this group.
Records to watch
- Orizzonte hold the record with 8 titles. Sabadell are one behind on 7.
- Sabadell have played in 11 finals, more than any other club.
- With one more title, Olympiacos (4) would reach five.
What comes next
The top two clubs from each group advance to the second Group Stage, where the eight qualifiers form two new groups of four. The top two from each of those groups reach the Final Four in Belgrade at the Sports Center “11 April”. The women’s semifinals are on 12 May 2027 and the medal games two days later, as in the 2026/27 European cups calendar.
Key facts
- Competition: Women’s Champions League 2026/27, Group Stage draw, 12 October 2026
- Format: 16 teams in four groups of four
- Path to the title: top two per group advance to two new groups of four, then the top two from each reach the Final Four
- Holders: Olympiacos (4 titles, Group C)
- Most titles: Orizzonte (8, Group C)
- Former champions in the draw: Orizzonte, Sabadell, Olympiacos, Vouliagmeni, Sant Andreu
- Euro Cup winners: CN Catalunya (Group B)
- Final Four: Belgrade, semifinals on 12 May 2027
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: total-waterpolo.com
