Over the past four editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship, Norway have been one of the most consistent teams in the competition, making the final twice, at France 2017 and Denmark/Germany 2019, when they won the silver medal, and the quarter-finals twice, at Egypt 2021 and Poland/Sweden 2023.

The Scandinavian side finished on the sixth place in the last two occasions, but consolidated their status as one of the best teams in the world, also making the cut for the Olympic Games at the last two editions – Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

However, since those silver medals at the 2017 and 2019 editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship, a medal has eluded them, with their last place on the podium of a major international competition being the bronze at the EHF EURO 2020, a competition they co-hosted.

That could well be a sign for Norway, as they are now in the position to co-host the IHF Men’s World Championship for the first time in history, as the Scandinavian side’s fans are expected to flock and cheer for their favourites in the Unity Arena in Baerum, where Norway are scheduled to play all their matches.

“It will be great to play in an arena where everyone is cheering us on. Incredibly fun! We have done that in matches and four-nation tournaments that have been arranged in Norway, and really appreciated it, but now it is a World Championship. We hope for the arena to be sold out, it will give us great motivation,” said coach Jonas Wille, for the official website of the Norway Handball Federation.

Wille, who replaced Christian Berge at the helm of the Norway men’s senior national team in 2022, has already plenty of experience in major international competitions, with the past years all leading up to this point, at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, where Norway are eyeing another medal.

One month prior to the start of the competition, Wille has announced the 18-player squad which will try to secure that objective, with plenty of expeirence at their disposal. Sure enough, the team will be led by back Sander Sagosen, who has battled several injuries over the past two years, but is slowly getting back into top form.

Experienced players like right back Magnus Abelvik Rød, right wing Kristian Bjørnsen, centre back Christian O’Sullivan or goalkeeper Torbjørn Bergerud are also in the squad, making Norway one of the teams to beat at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025, with the home advantage playing an important role.

“The important thing is to continue where we were after last year's European Championship, when we moved into the Olympic qualifiers in March and got more into an attacking position. We took that with us into the Olympics as well. We won't defend anything, but attack the opportunities that are in front of us,” added Wille.

Norway have selected to play in Group E, and the draw saw Portugal, Brazil and the United States of America heading into Norway’s path towards the main round and forward.

Norway will be favoured due to their hosting status, but also to their superior head-to-head record with their opponents in Group E. Over the last four years, Norway and Portugal have met several times in major international competitions, as Norway dominated Portugal, albeit by a low margin.

The two European sides in the group have met six times, with Norway taking four wins and Portugal two wins, with four of those meeting taking place in the last four years, including two in 2024. Portugal took one win this year, 37:32, in January, at the EHF EURO 2024, but Norway avenged that loss with a 32:29 win at the Olympic Qualification Tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in a match which took place in March, in Tatabanya, Hungary, as Jonas Wille’s side secured the coveted Olympic berth.

The only mutual match at the IHF Men’s World Championship took place at Egypt 2021, in the main round, when Portugal returned after nearly two decades to the world handball flagship competition, as Norway edged their counterparts by a single goal, 29:28.

Norway have also won all the five matches played against Brazil in major international competitions, with the last one coming at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in August 2021, when they took a 27:24 win. The previous four wins came at the IHF Men’s World Championship, 34:12 in 2005, 39:21 in 2009, 26:25 in 2011 and 39:26 in 2017, with three out of the four wins being in double digits.

Key players: Sander Sagosen (left back), Kristjan Bjornsen (right wing), Alexander Blonz (left wing)

Qualification: Co-hosts

History in the competition: 1958: 6th, 1961: 7th, 1964: 11th, 1967: 13th, 1970: 13th, 1993: 13th, 1997: 12th, 1999: 13th, 2001: 14th, 2005: 7th, 2007: 13th, 2009: 9th, 2011: 9th, 2017: Silver medal, 2019: Silver medal, 2021: 6th, 2023: 6th

Group at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: Group E (Norway, Portugal, Brazil, United States of America)