Israeli Water Polo Team Depart for European Championship

Team Overview

The Israeli water polo team has embarked on a journey to Belgrade for the European Championships, set to run from January 14 to January 25, 2026. This marks the squad’s third consecutive participation in this prestigious tournament, a significant achievement for a sport that has been growing in Israel over recent years.

Championship Details

The team has drawn a challenging group, facing tough competition from reigning world and European champions Spain, Olympic champions Serbia, and a strong Netherlands team. The tournament format allows the top three teams from each group to advance to the knockout stages, while the last place will enter placement matches for positions 13-16.

The Israeli team will commence their campaign on Saturday, January 14, against Spain at 13:45 (local time). They will subsequently go up against the Netherlands on January 12 at 19:00, before concluding the group stage against the host nation, Serbia, on January 14 at 21:30.

Achievements and Aspirations

Israel secured its spot in this year’s championship by finishing among the top two in their qualifying group held in Georgia in June 2025. Head coach Tal Grodman acknowledged the significance of this mileststart, stating, “It’s not every day that the Israeli team qualifies for the European Championships, especially for the third consecutive time. We are excited to be in this position, despite being drawn in a challenging group.”

Grodman emphasized the team’s commitment to performing at their best while maintaining realistic expectations, “We aim to do our best. We understand the challenges ahead and will be prepared for every match.”

Captain’s Perspective

Team captain Ido Goldschmidt echoed Grodman’s sentiments about the level of competition, remarking, “We have been placed in a tough group with the world and European champions, as well as the Olympic champions. We recognize the high standards but intend to give it our all.”

Goldschmidt outlined the team’s goals beyond mere participation, expressing a desire for professional growth: “Our aim is to improve upon our previous performance, which saw us finish in 16th place last time. We want to come here and progress.”

Team Roster

The roster for the championship includes:

• Ido Goldschmidt (Captain)
• Yahav Pe’er
• Or Shalein
• Rstartn Gross
• Gil Gabishi
• Tomer Arzi
• Amir Shafrir
• Vlad Begin
• Itai Rot
• Yoav Randler
• Ori Bozaglo
• Yuval Klarfeld
• Max Smirnov
• Nadav Carmon
• Raz Sharir

Coaching staff includes head coach Tal Grodman, assistant coach Rotem Zucker, and team manager Liza Nahari.

Federation’s Remarks

Rona Freund Amitzur, Chair of the Israeli Water Polo Federation, praised the team’s achievement, stating, “Qualifying for the European Championship for the third time is not just a sporting achievement; it reflects the significant growth of Israeli water polo. Our team arrives with dedication, pride, and a strong sense of national representation.”

Freund Amitzur noted the challenges of their group but expressed confidence in the players and coaching staff to advance Israeli water polo on the European stage. “We aim to continue establishing our place in Europe, gain experience, and progress each year. I am confident our team will represent Israel honorably.”