The 29th IHF Men’s World Championship in Croatia, Denmark and Norway was officially opened in the legendary Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Denmark, by the IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, following an opening ceremony which highlighted the huge handball heritage of the co-hosts.

After the opening match between Italy and Tunisia, 30 minutes before the second match of the day, which featured Denmark and Algeria, the arena was darkened and saw the culture of handball celebrated by four dancers, in a show which emphasised the history of the sport and its rich history, helping the spectators get closer to be "Inspired by handball", the official motto of the 2025 IHF Men's World Championship.

As Dr Hassan Moustafa, the IHF President, addressed the spectators present in a video message, the whole arena held a minute of silence for the untimely passing of the former President of the Danish Handball Federation, Morten Stig Christensen.

“First, I would like to honour a key figure in international handball, who contributed not only to the development of handball in Denmark and worldwide, but also to the successful organisation of international handball events, including this year’s edition of the IHF Men’s World Championship. Please join me for a moment of silence to honour the memory of Morten Stig Christensen, late President of the Danish Handball Federation,” said Dr Moustafa.

The President of the IHF continued his address: “I would therefore like to thank everyone involved, especially the players, coaches, referees, National Federations and Continental Confederations for their outstanding work and performances. My special thanks go to the Paris 2024 Organising Committee and the countless spectators. I am sure that the 2025 Men’s World Championship, hosted by Croatia, Norway and Denmark, will be another milestone in the successful development of handball worldwide.”

The trophy of the IHF Men’s World Handball Championship, awarded to the winners of the competition, was also present in the Jykse Bank Boxen, as Denmark are trying to secure it for an unprecedented fourth time in a row.

A short video message from Jan Kampman, the President of the Danish Handball Federation, followed.

“This competition underlines the spirit of friendship and unity tHAT sports inspire across the borders. To all the teams who have worked tirelessly to reach this stage and tonight you stand as ambassadors of dedication and excellence. To the fans, your passion and energy are the heartbeat of this event,” said Kampman.

“On behalf of the organised community, I thank everyone who made this championship possible. Together, let's create memories that will echo long after the final whistle. Let the games begin, and let's get inspired by handball.”

Another emotional moment in the opening ceremony saw a short video message which inspired to unity coming from former Denmark captain Niklas Landin, who retired from international handball last summer, following the gold medal won at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

For the third edition in a row, 32 teams are ready to fight for the big prize, with both powerhouses and underdogs dotting up the final Is before the start of the 29th edition of the IHF Men's World Championship. 

The 29th edition of the IHF Men’s World Championship is the first to be co-hosted by three countries – Croatia, Denmark and Norway – with five venues hosting the 108 matches in the world handball flagship competition.