Preparations for the IHF Men’s World Championship 2027 in Germany are continuing to gather momentum. Nineteen of the 32 available spots have already been secured. In addition to the qualified nations from Asia, Africa, and South and Central America, the European participants confirmed so far include host nation Germany, defending champions Denmark, as well as Croatia, Iceland, Sweden and Portugal.
The remaining places will be decided in the coming months. Particular attention will be on the European play-offs in May 2026, before the preliminary round draw takes place on 10 June 2026. At the latest following the group stage draw, it will be confirmed which teams will face each other in the eight groups of the 2027 Handball World Championship in Germany.
The Group Stage Draw
The official draw for the preliminary round groups will take place on 10 June 2026 in Munich at the Hofbräuhaus. On this day, teams and fans will learn which nations will compete against each other in the eight preliminary round groups. In accordance with IHF regulations, the 32 teams will be divided into four pots to ensure balanced sporting distribution.
As host nation, Germany is seeded in Pot 1 and will start in Group A in Munich. This means the DHB team will not face other seeded top nations such as defending champions Denmark (Group G in Kiel), Sweden or Egypt during the preliminary round. The draw from Pot 2 will be particularly interesting, as potential opponents such as Iceland, Portugal or — subject to successful qualification — Norway could be drawn into Germany’s group. Teams from Pot 3 (e.g., Brazil or the Netherlands) and Pot 4 (such as Japan or Qatar) will complete the international line-up.
With Germany fixed in Group A and Denmark in Group G, it is also guaranteed that the two nations could meet no earlier than the final stage of the tournament. The 2027 World Championship draw is eagerly anticipated.
European Play-offs in May: Deciding the Final Qualification Spots
Before the groups can be drawn, the final ten European World Championship tickets must be awarded in May 2026. In two-legged play-off matches, several nations will battle for their place in the final tournament. Confirmed match-ups include France vs. Czech Republic and Switzerland vs. Italy. Other established handball nations such as Norway, Spain, Hungary and the Netherlands are also under pressure during this qualification phase.
The winners of these play-offs will complete the 32-team field and will then be allocated to the remaining draw pots according to their sporting ranking. The May matches will therefore directly influence the composition of the preliminary round groups — and possible scenarios for Germany and other top teams.
Handball World Championship 2027 in Germany: Schedule and Tournament Format at a Glance
The overall match schedule from 13 to 31 January 2027 follows a clearly structured format with a focus on player workload management. The preliminary round will take place from 13 to 19 January, with each team having at least one rest day after every matchday.
The top three teams from each preliminary round group will qualify for the main round, which will be held from 20 to 25 January. Two preliminary round groups will be combined into one main round group. Teams will carry over the results against the other qualified teams from their preliminary round group, meaning not all matches need to be replayed. This system increases the importance of every preliminary round match, as early points can prove decisive for the remainder of the tournament.
The fourth-placed teams in each preliminary round group will compete in the President’s Cup to determine places 25 to 32. The knockout stage begins on 26 January with the quarter-finals. The semi-finals are scheduled for 29 January, before the tournament concludes on 31 January 2027 with the third-place match and the final in Cologne.
Handball World Championship 2027 in Germany: Key Dates at a Glance
- May 2026: European play-offs
- 10 June 2026: Preliminary round draw in Munich
- 13–19 January 2027: Preliminary round
- 20–25 January 2027: Main round
- 26 January 2027: Quarter-finals
- 29 January 2027: Semi-finals
- 31 January 2027: Final in Cologne
Would you like to experience the matches of the 2027 Handball World Championship in Germany live in the arenas? Visit the official ticket shop here.
All questions regarding ticketing for the home World Championship are answered in our FAQ section.
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