The European qualification for the 2025 World Men's Handball Championship will be contested in two rounds between November 2023 and May 2024.[1] They will join six already qualified teams: Croatia and Norway, as co-hosts, Denmark as co-host and title holder, France as defending runner-ups, and two best ranked teams at 2024 European Men's Handball Championship excluding Croatia, Norway and Denmark.
Format edit
In the first round of qualification, ten teams were drawn in to knock-out ties. The winners advanced to part one of the qualification phase 2, where they join Lithuania, Ukraine and Belgium. The advancing teams will then join the 18 teams participating at the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship for the final qualifiers.[2]
Qualification phase 1 edit
The draw took place on 5 July 2023.[3][4] The winners of each tie advanced to phase 2.
Seeding edit
The 10 teams were seeded according to the current men's national team ranking.[5]
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
|---|---|
 Israel Slovakia Finland Turkey Estonia
|
 Latvia Italy Kosovo Luxembourg Great Britain
|
Overview edit
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luxembourg
|
58–63 | Israel
|
31–28 | 27–35 |
| Great Britain
|
28–58 | Finland
|
16–25 | 12–33 |
| Latvia
|
51–58 | Estonia
|
29–30 | 22–28 |
| Slovakia
|
58–51 | Kosovo
|
33–23 | 25–28 |
| Turkey
|
64–65 | Italy
|
37–28 | 27–37 |
Matches edit
All times are UTC+1.
| 17 January 2024[note 1] 18:45 |
Luxembourg
|
31–28 | Israel
|
d'Coque, Luxembourg City Attendance: 457 Referees: Bolic, Hurich (AUT) |
| Hoffmann 10 | (14–15) | Cohen 6 | ||
2× 7× 1×
|
Report | 2×
|
| 18 January 2024[note 1] 18:45 |
Israel
|
35–27 | Luxembourg
|
d'Coque, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Attendance: 442 Referees: Bolic, Hurich (AUT) |
| Dayan 9 | (15–16) | Hoffmann 8 | ||
| 8×
|
Report | 4×
|
Israel won 63–58 on aggregate.
| 2 November 2023 20:00 |
Great Britain
|
16–25 | Finland
|
Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Motherwell Attendance: 340 Referees: Pétursson, Þrastarson (ISL) |
| Pereira 7 | (8–11) | Helander 9 | ||
| 1× 2×
|
Report | 2× 4×
|
| 4 November 2023 15:00 |
Finland
|
33–12 | Great Britain
|
Karis idrottshall, Karis Attendance: 650 Referees: Kull, Tint (EST) |
| Helander 10 | (14–5) | Pereira 4 | ||
| 3×
|
Report | 1× 2×
|
Finland won 58–28 on aggregate.
| 2 November 2023 18:40 |
Latvia
|
29–30 | Estonia
|
Valmiers Olympic Centre, Valmiera Attendance: 450 Referees: Oyarzun, Zaragueta (ESP) |
| Geislers 12 | (12–13) | Toom 7 | ||
| 1× 2×
|
Report | 2×
|
| 4 November 2023 18:00 |
Estonia
|
28–22 | Latvia
|
Kalev Sports Hall, Tallinn Attendance: 660 Referees: Fukala, Mohyla (CZE) |
| Varik 7 | (12–7) | Geislers 5 | ||
| 1× 6×
|
Report | 3×
|
Estonia won 58–51 on aggregate.
| 2 November 2023 18:00 |
Slovakia
|
33–23 | Kosovo
|
City Sports Hall Považská Bystrica, Považská Bystrica Attendance: 1,400 Referees: Pagh, Thygesen (DEN) |
| Prokop 7 | (15–9) | Gjuka, Ninaj 5 | ||
| 2× 2×
|
Report | 1× 3×
|
| 5 November 2023 17:00 |
Kosovo
|
28–25 | Slovakia
|
Palace of Youth and Sports, Pristina Attendance: 750 Referees: Cindrić, Gonzurek (CRO) |
| Dedaj, Ninaj 6 | (14–14) | Briatka, Macháč 4 | ||
| 2× 4×
|
Report | 2× 6×
|
Slovakia won 58–51 on aggregate.
| 1 November 2023 17:00 |
Turkey
|
37–28 | Italy
|
Sakarya Sports Hall, Serdivan Attendance: 5,000 Referees: Ivanović, Vujisić (MNE) |
| Döne, Pehlivan 10 | (15–13) | Parisini 7 | ||
| 2× 6×
|
Report | 2×
|
| 5 November 2023 18:00 |
Italy
|
37–27 | Turkey
|
Pala Santa Filomena, Chieti Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Thiyagarajah, Thiyagarajah (GER) |
| Mengon, Moretti 7 | (16–11) | Pehlivan 7 | ||
| 3×
|
Report | 1× 6×
|
Italy won 65–64 on aggregate.
Qualification phase 2 edit
Part 1 edit
The winners of phase 1 joined Belgium, Lithuania and Ukraine. The matches were played in March 2024.[2] The draw was made on 21 November 2023.[7]
Qualified teams
from Phase 1
Seeding edit
The eight teams were seeded according to the current men's national team ranking.[8]
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 |
|---|---|
 Ukraine Lithuania Belgium Israel
|
Slovakia Finland Estonia Italy
|
Overview edit
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium
|
56–62 | Italy
|
25–29 | 31–33 |
| Estonia
|
73–62 | Ukraine
|
32–29 | 41–33 |
| Slovakia
|
52–49 | Israel
|
26–25 | 26–24 |
| Finland
|
46–46 3–4 (p) |
Lithuania
|
20–20 | 26–26 |
Matches edit
All times are UTC+1.
| 13 March 2024 20:10 |
Belgium
|
25–29 | Italy
|
Sporthal Alverberg, Hasselt Attendance: 1,700 Referees: Cindrić, Gonzurek (CRO) |
| Danesi, Serras 5 | (15–17) | Bulzamini 9 | ||
| 2× 3×
|
Report | 1× 2× 1×
|
| 17 March 2024 18:00 |
Italy
|
33–31 | Belgium
|
Giovanni Paolo II Sports Hall, Pescara Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Brkic, Jusufhodzic (AUT) |
| Bortoli 9 | (16–16) | Danesi 6 | ||
| 1× 2×
|
Report | 5× 1×
|
Italy won 62–56 on aggregate.
| 13 March 2024 18:00 |
Estonia
|
32–29 | Ukraine
|
Kalev Sports Hall, Tallinn Attendance: 740 Referees: Hannes, Hannes (GER) |
| Jaanimaa 11 | (18–16) | Turchenko 13 | ||
| 2× 5× 1×
|
Report | 1× 4×
|
| 16 March 2024 14:30 |
Ukraine
|
33–41 | Estonia
|
Alytus Arena, Alytus, Lithuania[note 2] Attendance: 850 Referees: Čerņavskis, Bogdanovs (LAT) |
| Rahozin 6 | (18–18) | Toom 9 | ||
| 3×
|
Report | 1×
|
Estonia won 73–62 on aggregate.
| 15 March 2024 19:30 |
Slovakia
|
26–25 | Israel
|
Sporthalle Topoľčany, Topoľčany Attendance: 2,100 Referees: Bozhinovski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| Potisk 6 | (14–16) | Bodenheimer, Segal 5 | ||
| 1× 1×
|
Report | 1×
|
| 17 March 2024 14:00 |
Israel
|
24–26 | Slovakia
|
Sporthalle Topoľčany, Topoľčany, Slovakia[note 3] Attendance: 2,050 Referees: Bozhinovski, Nachevski (MKD) |
| Cohen 6 | (11–13) | Potisk 6 | ||
| 3×
|
Report | 3×
|
Slovakia won 52–49 on aggregate.
| 14 March 2024 17:30 |
Finland
|
20–20 | Lithuania
|
Energia Areena, Vantaa Attendance: 900 Referees: Borge, Nygren (NOR) |
| M. Granlund, Helander 4 | (9–9) | Antanavičius 5 | ||
| 1× 7×
|
Report | 5×
|
| 17 March 2024 17:00 |
Lithuania
|
30–29 | Finland
|
Alytus Arena, Alytus Attendance: 1,700 Referees: Jerlecki,, Łabuń (POL) |
| Malašinskas 8 | (13–13) | M. Granlund 6 | ||
| 4×
|
Report | 4×
| ||
|
FT: 26–26 Pen: 4–3 | ||||
46–46 on aggreagate. Lithuania won 4–3 on penalties.
Part 2 edit
The winners from Part 1 will join 18 teams from the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship that did not qualify directly for the 2025 World Championship.[7] The draw was held on 27 January 2024, with two-legged matches scheduled to be played on 8 and 12 May 2024.[10]
Seeding edit
The 22 teams were seeded according to the ranking of the 2024 European Men's Handball Championship.[11] The 11 best-ranked teams were placed in Pot 1, while the remaining seven teams were placed together with the four winners from Part 1 in Pot 2.
Overview edit
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithuania
|
– |  Hungary
|
9 May | 12 May |
Slovenia 
|
– |  Switzerland
|
9 May | 12 May |
Portugal 
|
– |  Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
9 May | 12 May |
Georgia 
|
– |  Austria
|
9 May | 12 May |
Iceland 
|
– | Estonia
|
8 May | 11 May |
Greece 
|
– |  Netherlands
|
8 May | 12 May |
Spain 
|
– |  Serbia
|
8 May | 12 May |
| Italy
|
– |  Montenegro
|
9 May | 12 May |
Romania 
|
– |  Czech Republic
|
8 May | 12 May |
Poland 
|
– | Slovakia
|
9 May | 12 May |
Faroe Islands 
|
– |  North Macedonia
|
8 May | 12 May |
Matches edit
All times are UTC+2.
| 9 May 2024 18:00 |
Lithuania
|
v | Hungary
|
Avia Solutions Group Arena, Vilnius Referees: Lovin, Stancu (ROU) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 17:15 |
Hungary
|
v | Lithuania
|
Veszprém Aréna, Veszprém Referees: Lončar, Lončar (CRO) |
| Report | ||||
| 9 May 2024 18:00 |
Slovenia
|
v | Switzerland
|
Arena Bonifika, Koper Referees: Madsen, Mortensen (DEN) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 16:00 |
Switzerland
|
v | Slovenia
|
AXA-Arena, Winterthur Referees: Covalciuc, Covalciuc (MDA) |
| Report | ||||
| 9 May 2024 20:30 |
Portugal
|
v | Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
Pavilhao Desportivo Unidade Vimaranense, Guimarães Referees: Kull, Tint (EST) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 17:00 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
v | Portugal
|
KSPC Mejdan, Tuzla Referees: Backović, Palačković (SLO) |
| Report | ||||
| 9 May 2024 16:00 |
Georgia
|
v | Austria
|
Tbilisi Sports Palace, Tbilisi Referees: Mažeika, Gatelis (LTU) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 16:00 |
Austria
|
v | Georgia
|
Albert Schultz Halle, Vienna Referees: Álvarez, Bustamante (ESP) |
| Report | ||||
| 8 May 2024 21:30 |
Iceland
|
v | Estonia
|
Laugardalshöll, Reykjavík Referees: Mandák, Rudinský (SVK) |
| Report | ||||
| 11 May 2024 17:00 |
Estonia
|
v | Iceland
|
Kalev Sports Hall, Tallinn Referees: Vujačić, Kažanegra (MNE) |
| Report | ||||
| 8 May 2024 16:15 |
Greece
|
v | Netherlands
|
Municipal Sports Center Lefkovrisi, Kozani Referees: Gasmi, Gasmi (FRA) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 16:00 |
Netherlands
|
v | Greece
|
Indoor-Sportcentrum Eindhoven, Eindhoven Referees: Horáček, Novotný (CZE) |
| Report | ||||
| 8 May 2024 21:00 |
Spain
|
v | Serbia
|
Lalín Arena, Lalín Referees: Hansen, Madsen (DEN) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 17:00 |
Serbia
|
v | Spain
|
Spens, Novi Sad Referees: Lah, Sok (SLO) |
| Report | ||||
| 9 May 2024 20:00 |
Italy
|
v | Montenegro
|
Pala San Giacomo, Conversano Referees: Brunner, Salah (SUI) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 17:30 |
Montenegro
|
v | Italy
|
Morača Sports Center, Podgorica Referees: Martins, Martins (POR) |
| Report | ||||
| 8 May 2024 16:30 |
Romania
|
v | Czech Republic
|
Lascăr Pană Sports Hall, Baia Mare Referees: Marín, García (ESP) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 16:30 |
Czech Republic
|
v | Romania
|
Winning Group Arena, Brno Referees: Schulze, Tönnies (GER) |
| Report | ||||
| 9 May 2024 18:00 |
Poland
|
v | Slovakia
|
Ergo Arena, Gdańsk Referees: Caçador, Nicolau (POR) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 17:30 |
Slovakia
|
v | Poland
|
Sporthalle Topoľčany, Topoľčany Referees: Konjičanin, Konjičanin (BIH) |
| Report | ||||
| 8 May 2024 20:00 |
Faroe Islands
|
v | North Macedonia
|
Høllin á Hálsi, Tórshavn Referees: Merz, Kuttler (GER) |
| Report | ||||
| 12 May 2024 19:00 |
North Macedonia
|
v | Faroe Islands
|
Boris Trajkovski Sports Center, Skopje Referees: Erdoğan, Özdeniz (TUR) |
| Report | ||||
Notes edit
- ^ a b Due to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, the matches of Israel were postponed.[6]
- ^ Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian team plays their home matches at neutral venues.[9]
- ^ Due to the Israel–Hamas war, the Israeli team plays their home matches at neutral venues.
- ^ a b c d Team not determined at time of draw.
References edit
- ^ "IHF Council awards events up to 2027". ihf.info. 28 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Draw set for 2025 Men's World Championship qualification". eurohandball.com. 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Men's World Championship Qualification draw sets up Baltic clash". eurohandball.com. 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Handball-WM 2025: 1. Phase der Qualifikation ausgelost". handball-world.news. 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Denmark top new EHF men's national team ranking". eurohandball.com. 5 July 2023.
- ^ "WM-Qualifikationsspiele gegen Israel verlegt". wort.lu. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Italian comeback highlights World Championship qualification". eurohandball.com. 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Four ties in Men's World Championship qualification to be drawn". eurohandball.com. 20 November 2023.
- ^ "EHF decision on current competition structures". eurohandball.com. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "2025 World Championship draw offers clash between Spain and Serbia". www.eurohandball.com. European Handball Federation. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Pots for 2025 World Championship qualification draw set". www.eurohandball.com. European Handball Federation. 25 January 2024.