Two years ago, at Poland/Sweden 2023, the United States of America delivered their biggest ever performance at the IHF Men’s World Championship. It might have not been their best finishing position in the competition, the 23rd place, but snapping a 23-match losing streak and winning their maiden two matches was a huge stepping stone for Robert Hedin’s side.

Sure, the American side waited nearly 50 years for this magical moment, after making their debut in 1964, failing to secure wins in their appearances in 1970, 1974, 1993, 1995 and 2001.

They could have returned to the biggest of stages at Egypt 2021, but a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad resulted in the USA withdrawing, but they continued their preparation, with plenty of players featuring at European clubs, and with plenty of know-how and experience from their head coach, Robert Hedin.

And 2023 has been a strong year for the United States of America, with their maiden two wins at the IHF Men’s World Championship, 28:27 against Morocco and 24:22 against Belgium, which saw USA finish on the 23rd place in the final standings, offering a beacon of hope for further development.

A fourth place at the 2023 Pan American Games, with wins against Uruguay and Cuba, and losses against powerhouses Argentina, Brazil and Chile, with a 27:28 loss in the bronze medal match against the latter side, offered more hope for the American side, which is clearly on the up.

While the fourth place at the 2024 NACHC Men's North America and the Caribbean Championship – with losses against winners Cuba and Mexico – might say otherwise, the USA had not sent the best available squad to the competition organised in Mexico City, as the top players plus head coach Hedin were involved in friendly matches against strong European opponents.

With USA already having secured a wild card for the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, they will face some tougher opponents on their way to another main round berth, as they are definitely the big underdogs in Group E, which will be hosted by the Unity Arena in Baerum, Norway.

Norway and Portugal have been two of the best teams in Europe in the past years, with both of them securing top-12 finishes in the past two editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship. On the other hand, Brazil, the other team in the group, have been dominating the USA side in continental competitions for the past decade.

USA lost by a combined margin of 72 goals against Brazil, all the four losses coming in double digits, including a 27:40 loss in the semi-finals of the PanAmerican Games in 2023, which will make a crucial win here a tough proposition for the American side.

Preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship is a stepping stone for Hedin’s side, which still retains some crucial players in the extended squad.

Stalwarts like Aboubakar Fofana, Pal Merkovszki, Andrew Donlin or Paul Skorupa have all been named in the provisional squad for Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025, but the preliminary round matches in the Unity Arena will surely show if the USA team has really come of age over the last years, with Hedin, a former Norway national team coach, at the helm.

Key players: Andrew Donlin (line player), Aboubakar Fofana (left back), Pal Merkovszky (goalkeeper)

Qualification: Wild card

History in the competition: 1964: 16th, 1970: 16th, 1974: 16th, 1993: 16th, 1995: 21st, 2001: 24th, 2023: 20th

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