The upcoming European Water Polo Championship is set to commence on January 3 of next year, with plans to take place in Croatia.

Recently, the European Swimming Federation (LEN) made the definitive decision to move the event from Netanya due to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, raising doubts about whether the championship would proceed at all.

However, a promising solution has emerged, with Zagreb likely to be the host city (just like in 2010), following Split’s successful hosting of the top European teams in the summer of 2022.

In both instances, Croatia emerged as champions of Europe.

Berlin was also considered as a potential venue for January 2024, but with less than two months remaining until the event begins, the location for the European Championship is becoming increasingly clear. This championship is particularly significant as it serves as a qualifier for the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.

The European champion or the highest-ranked team after Hungary, Greece, and France—who have already qualified—will secure a spot for the Olympics.

Additionally, the top three national teams from the European Championship will qualify for the World Championship set to take place in Doha from February 2 to February 18 of the following year. Notably, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Serbia, Italy, and France have already earned their qualifications from the European teams.

This is crucial for the Montenegrin national team, which will compete in group A at the European Championship.

The “Sharks” face rivals Spain, France, and Croatia.

The leading two teams will move directly to the quarter-finals, while the third and fourth-placed teams will contest against the top two teams from the Division 2 groups in the knockout stage.

The group that includes Montenegro will face teams from Group A of Division B, which consists of Serbia, Germany, Israel, and Malta.

It has also been announced that the European Women’s Championship is to take place in Eindhoven.

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