11 tickets for the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship will be booked this week in the European Qualification Phase 2 – Part 2, with 22 teams fighting for the huge chance of featuring in the world handball flagship competition.

So far, 18 teams are already qualified, with six European sides having already earned safe passage to the competition. Three of them are the hosts – Croatia, Denmark and Norway – while the other three secured their places at the Men’s EHF EURO 2024. Winners France, bronze medallists Sweden and fourth-placed side Germany are also sure of their place next January.

Undoubtedly, the biggest doubleheader on schedule for the European Qualification Phase 2 – Part 2 is the one between Spain and Serbia, two of the powerhouses of the continent. Spain have been one of the most consistent teams in recent years and have secured the bronze medal at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, but fell short and exited the EHF EURO from the preliminary round, finishing on the 13th place.

On the other side, Serbia will have new coach Boris Rojević tested, after he replaced Spanish coach Toni Gerona, but “Los Hispanos” are due to be favoured in this doubleheader, especially as they seem back on track, after securing a place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games via the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Granollers in March.

There will be heavy favourites, as Hungary face Lithuania, with the sole aim of making it to Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025, which would be their ninth appearance in the last 10 editions of the world handball flagship competition.

Another heavily favoured side will be Portugal, as their experience and depth should be no match for Bosnia Herzegovina, which are trying to return to the world handball flagship competition for the first time since Qatar 2015.

Iceland are also due to be favourites against Estonia, which surprisingly eliminated Ukraine in the European Qualification Phase 2 – Part 1, while Poland are also their third consecutive appearance facing Slovakia.

But for the Faroe Islands, the two matches against North Macedonia are due to bring serious excitement, after a fantastic outing at the EHF EURO 2024, where they ended up on the 20th place, with a draw against Norway to show. The Faroe Islands, led by the 2023 IHF Young Male Player of the Year, Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu, could make it to the IHF Men’s World Championship for the first time in history.

Two interesting doubleheaders will see Romania pit against Czechia, as coach George Buricea will make his debut in an official match for the Romania team, after replacing Xavi Pascual, with his side trying to make it back in the final tournament for the first time since 2011.

Netherlands are due to be favoured against Greece, however they lost the away match in the EHF EURO 2024 Qualifiers against their opponents, which might send an alarm signal or two for Staffan Olsson’s side.

The first legs of the European Qualification Phase 2 – Part 2 are scheduled for 8 and 9 May, while the second legs are all scheduled on 12 May, when the 11 tickets for the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship are due to be delivered.

European Qualification Phase 2 – Part 2

• Lithuania vs Hungary
• Italy vs Montenegro
• Greece vs Netherlands
• Romania vs Czechia
• Spain vs Serbia
• Faroe Islands vs North Macedonia
• Slovenia vs Switzerland
• Portugal vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Iceland vs Estonia
• Poland vs Slovakia
• Georgia vs Austria