Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025: One week to go before being #InspiredbyHandball
07 Jan. 2025
The wait is almost over. After two years, the IHF Men’s World Championship is back and there are only seven days separating us from the start of the competition, which will be hosted by three countries for the first time in history.
Prepare to be #InspiredbyHandball, the motto of this edition of the world handball flagship competition, where the top teams in the world are battling for the coveted title, won by Denmark in the previous three editions of the IHF Men's World Championship.
All the 32 teams have their provisional squads announced on the official mini-website of the competition, with coaches also deciding on the players which will take on the court in the five venues in Croatia, Denmark and Norway between 14 January and 2 February, fighting for the coveted title.
Preparations are in full flow in Poreč, Varaždin and Zagreb, as well as in Herning and Bærum, Oslo, with the five venues getting ready to welcome the 32 sides, as the 29th IHF Men’s World Championship is the third edition of the world handball competition with an extended line-up.
The make-over received by the Unity Arena in Bærum, the host of the final day of the competition, is also over, with the stadium transformed into a handball arena, where the finals of the men’s and women’s Norwegian Cup were hosted on 29 December, with Kolstad Handball and Storhamar Handball Elite being the winners.
The teams are on their last stages of their preparations, with the Yellow Cup, a traditional friendly competition at the start of the New Year, seeing the Netherlands edge out Switzerland and Italy in a three-team tie.
Another friendly competition will take place in Spain, with Spain, Egypt, Norway and Argentina taking part, with other powerhouses, such as Norway, Denmark and Germany having scheduled friendly matches this week before the start of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship.
The mascot of the competition has also been confirmed, with Foxy being responsible for the joy and entertainment of the spectators who will flock to the five venues in the three countries.
The decision was simple, as Foxy, the fox, is the animal which stood out as the most unique animal habited in all three hosting countries.
The 29th IHF Men’s World Championship will throw off on 14 January 2025 in Herning, with the match between Italy and Tunisia, scheduled at 17:30 CET, while France are facing Qatar at 18:00 CET in Poreč.