Belgrade was given the hosting rights in May 2022.[1]
Hosting change
At a press conference in Valletta, Malta, held in June 2024, it was briefly mentioned that the bidding process had reopened for this competition, but no official statement was made at that time. While it was confirmed that the men's event will be held in Belgrade in March 2025, the venue for the women's tournament was changed due to Serbia requesting that they only host the men's event.[2][6]
A new system will be used for this tournament. The 16 teams will be split into four groups of four teams. In each group there will be two teams from the last tournament and two teams from the qualifiers. They will play a round-robin in their groups. The top two teams of each group will advance to the second group stage (Groups A&C in Group E and Groups B&D in Group F) with all results are carried over. The teams will play the opponents from the other group. The same will be done by the third-and fourth-placed teams as they will play in two groups and classification games afterwards. From the second group stage, the top-two ranked teams of each group advance to the semifinals, all other teams will play in placement games.[10]
Of the sixteen teams who qualified, fourteen took part in the previous edition. Switzerland returned for the first time since 1995 and did so on merit for the first time.[11][12]Portugal comes back for the first time since 2016.[13][14]
Of the absentees, Czechia failed to qualify after appearing in 2024, while 2024 debutants, Bulgaria, didn't enter qualification.
First match(es) will be played: 26 January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: 26 January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference. (H) Host
First match(es) will be played: 26 January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: 26 January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
Classification round
Group E
Pos
Team
Pld
W
PSW
PSL
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
A3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
C3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
A4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
C4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
Group F
Pos
Team
Pld
W
PSW
PSL
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
B3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
D3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
B4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
D4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) Goal difference.
Main round
All points obtained in the preliminary round against teams that advance as well are carried over.
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
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