Draw reveals fantastic groups for the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship

The 32 sides, which were divided into four pots of eight teams each, were drawn starting from Pot 4 to Pot 1, with eight groups set for the preliminary round of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, as the top three teams in each group progress to the main round.

Reigning champions and co-hosts Denmark will be playing in Group B, in Herning, alongside Italy, Algeria and Tunisia, while the other co-hosts, Norway are headlining Group E, in Baerum, Oslo, where they face Portugal, Brazil and the United States of America. Left wing Alexander Blonz also helped in the draw, selecting the teams from Pot 3.

Undoubtedly, the group which will be the most balanced is Group A, where four European teams will face off for a place in the main round, as Germany, Czechia, Poland and wild card Switzerland are due to face off in a battle for the ages.

Another tough group will be the one in Baerum, Oslo, where Sweden meet Spain, Japan and Chile, in a battle of different styles. Runners-up from the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship and reigning Olympic champions, France, have been drawn in Group C, alongside Austria, Qatar and Kuwait and will play in Porec.

Another tough group looks to be D, in Varazdin, with three European teams – Hungary, the Netherlands and North Macedonia – are facing debutants Guinea, the only team which will make their debut at the IHF Men’s World Championship in this edition.