Sixteen college teams play for the men's national club water polo title at the Huntsville Aquatics Center Friday to Sunday. Passes are $15 a day at the door, and kids 12 and under get in free.

The best men’s college club water polo teams in the country play for the national title in Huntsville this weekend.

The Collegiate Water Polo Association’s 2026 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship runs Friday, Nov. 6, to Sunday, Nov. 8. Every game is at the Huntsville Aquatics Center, 2213 Drake Ave. SW. The University of Alabama and the Huntsville Sports Commission are the hosts, the association said.

Sixteen teams qualified through their divisions. Cal Poly, the California Polytechnic State University team, is the 2025 champion, according to the association’s tournament program.

Who is playing

The field, listed alphabetically:

  • Alabama
  • Cal Poly
  • Cal State Chico
  • Colorado
  • Cornell
  • Florida International
  • Georgia Tech
  • Indiana
  • Iowa State
  • Notre Dame
  • Oregon
  • Pittsburgh
  • San Diego State
  • Texas A&M
  • Virginia
  • Yale

Alabama is the Southeast Division’s team. Georgia Tech takes the host division’s second bid, the association said.

When to go

The association’s posted schedule has 30 games over three days:

  • Friday, Nov. 6: first-round games every 70 minutes from 9 a.m., ending with a game at 9:50 p.m. Alabama plays Pittsburgh at 12:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 7: quarterfinals from 9 a.m. and semifinals in the evening.
  • Sunday, Nov. 8: placing games from 9 a.m. The championship game is at 12:45 p.m.

Who plays on Saturday and Sunday depends on Friday’s results. The schedule page is updated with scores.

Tickets

Tickets are sold only at the door, with no presale, the association said:

  • three-day tournament pass: $35
  • one-day pass: $15
  • children 12 and under: free

Fans who cannot attend can watch on a pay-per-view stream at CWPATV.com for the same prices. The program says alcohol and tobacco are not allowed at the event.

Not the first time

Huntsville has hosted this event before. The aquatics center held the men’s championship in November 2021 and the women’s championship in May 2022, the City of Huntsville said in a 2022 city blog post. The city said then that the 16-team event brings about 350 players, coaches and officials to town.

What it means for you

  • A cheap weekend outing. A day pass is $15, and children 12 and under get in free. Buy at the door, since there is no advance sale.
  • Go early on Friday to see the most teams. Sixteen teams play in the first round.
  • A local team to cheer. Alabama’s first game is at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

For more ideas this week, see things to do in Huntsville.