National Pool Complex Ready as Europe’s Best Prepare to Descend on Malta
With less than a few days to go, final preparations at the National Pool Complex in Msida are complete — and the stage is set for the most prestigious week in European club water polo.
The venue has been transformed into a world-class competition arena. The facility, home of SportMalta, will host both the Men’s and Women’s Champions League Final Fours simultaneously — a historic first in the competition’s history and a powerful statement of trust in Malta’s organisational capability.
Eight of Europe’s leading clubs will be arriving over the coming days, with athletes, coaching staff, officials, and media representatives from across the continent descending in Malta ahead of a four-day programme of elite competition. On the men’s side, Pro Recco (Italy), defending champions FTC Telekom Waterpolo (Hungary), Olympiacos (Greece), and Zodiac CN Atlètic-Barceloneta (Spain) are in contention. The women’s draw features CN Sant Andreu (Spain), Olympiacos SFP (Greece), Assolim CN Mataró (Spain), and FTC Telekom Waterpolo (Hungary).
Before the Champions League action gets underway, the National Pool Complex will this evening host the SportMalta Cup — a celebration of local rivalry that has become a beloved tradition. At 19:00, Sirens take on Sliema in the first-ever Women’s SportMalta Cup, a landmark moment for women’s water polo in Malta. The evening then continues at 21:00 with the men’s edition, as arch-rivals San Giljan and Neptunes — last year’s cup winners — renew hostilities in what promises to be a fiercely contested affair.
The Fan Zone will operate to welcome supporters of all ages from Wednesday, with interactive games, sponsor activations, and official merchandise available on-site. The area surrounding the complex has been designated car-free for the duration of the event, with parking available at the nearby University of Malta grounds.
Television cameras are in place, with TVM Sport set to broadcast every match live — coverage that will reach audiences across multiple international territories and provide Malta with significant global sporting exposure. The opening ceremony will feature a ceremonial relay of the Champions League trophies, carried by national team players across some of Malta’s most iconic locations before arriving at the poolside ahead of the first Champions League matches.
TONIGHT’S FIXTURES — MONDAY 8 JUNE
SportMalta Cup Women: 19:00hrs Sirens vs Sliema
SportMalta Cup Men: 21:00San Giljan vs Neptunes
Stay tuned to the SportMalta website for match updates, results, and all the latest news throughout the week as Malta takes centre stage in European water polo.
