An unprecedented 28-match unbeaten streak, three world titles in a row and a domination which has never been seen at this level in the history of the IHF Men’s World Championship.

When Denmark take on the court in the Jyske Bank Boxen for the first time at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, featuring against Algeria, the reigning world champions would have not lost a match in the competition for nearly eight years.

Over this time, Denmark have secured a fantastic three-peat, won 26 of their last 28 matches and scored at least 300 goals in each of the last three editions of the world handball flagship competition.

It is a dominance which has never been achieved by any team and doing it with relative ease, by constantly bringing new players to the fore, players who make the All-Star team or win the MVP accolade, makes Denmark one of the teams, if not the team to beat at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025.

“There are plenty of strong teams there, which will like to win the trophy. But we still have a fantastic side, with some great players, ready to write more history. We need to stay focused, we need to get this fantastic energy from our home fans, and do the best we can in January,” says Magnus Saugstrup, Denmark’s line player and the new captain of the team.

The big question for Nikolaj Jacobsen’s side is how will they bounce back after losing two key players, who helped write history for Denmark over the last decades?

The Scandinavian side has undergone a significant change, losing key players in the last months. Left back Mikkel Hansen, a three-time IHF Male Player of the Year, a three-time MVP at the IHF Men’s World Championship and a two-time top goal scorer at the world handball flagship competition, has retired from handball after the Olympic Games.

Goalkeeper Niklas Landin, himself the IHF Male Player of the Year and twice the All-Star Goalkeeper of the IHF Men’s World Championship, has also retired from international handball, leaving, alongside Hansen, two huge gaps for Denmark, which have scrambled to ensure continuation, with players like Emil Nielsen and Simon Pytlick, who have taken over more and more responsibility in the last years.

“Of course, there have been a lot of changes. Whenever we were in tough moments in the last decade, we had Niklas or Mikkel to rely on. They have been fantastic. Their leadership, their quality, their presence were undeniable and they have always helped the team get a good result in tough moments,” says line player Magnus Saugstrup.

Nevertheless, Denmark still have plenty of talent at their disposal, with the emergence of the 2023 IHF Male Player of the Year, Mathias Gidsel, and the All-Star left back at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, Simon Pytlick, taking over the reins and delivering some fantastic performances in the last years.

The two were fantastic in the previous edition of the Olympic Games, at Paris 2024, when Denmark were crowned Olympic champions for the second time in history, and will try to add another piece of history to the star-studded side, clinching yet another world title, the fourth in a row.

On paper, Denmark look good, despite losing the aforementioned stars, as well as another right back, Mads Hoxer, due to an injury. But with a group where they will be favoured on their home court against Italy, Algeria and Tunisia, their unbeaten streak should hit 30 matches and provide the setting for another trophy challenge, especially as they are primed to play six matches on their home court in Herning.

Key players: Mathias Gidsel (right back), Simon Pytlick (left back), Emil Nielsen (goalkeeper)

Qualification: Co-hosts

History in the competition: 1938: 4th, 1954: 5th, 1958: 4th, 1961: 5th, 1964: 7th, 1967: Silver medal, 1970: 4th, 1974: 8th, 1978: 4th, 1982: 4th, 1986: 8th, 1993: 9th, 1995: 17th, 1999: 9th, 2003: 9th, 2005: 13th, 2007: Bronze medal, 2009: 4th, 2011: Silver medal, 2013: Silver medal, 2015: 5th, 2017: 10th, 2019: Winners, 2021: Winners, 2023: Winners

Group at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: Group B (Denmark, Italy, Algeria, Tunisia)