The countdown to the 2027 IHF Men's World Championship took on a new dimension on Sunday in Cologne, where four of the most recognisable names in German handball history were officially unveiled as ambassadors for the competition.

Dominik Klein, Stefan Kretzschmar, Anja Althaus and Pascal Hens, who were introduced before Germany's friendly match against Denmark in Cologne, the location of the final weekend of the 30th edition of the IHF Men's World Championship, will now carry the flag for a competition that promises to be one of the most emotionally charged sporting events the country has hosted in years.

The choice of ambassadors was symbolic for Germany's handball history. Klein and Hens were both part of the 2007 squad which won the World Championship, the team that gave Germany its "winter fairy tale", a home tournament that left a permanent mark on the country's sporting soul and turned handball into a national obsession almost overnight.

Kretzschmar, who made 218 appearances for the national team, is one of the most influential and recognisable personalities the sport has ever produced in Germany. And Althaus, who played 243 matches for her country, brings a perspective that stretches beyond the men's game, she also served as one of the faces of the IHF Women's World Championship in Germany and the Netherlands just last December, where Germany claimed the silver medal.

"To be an ambassador for the sport I fell in love with as a child and to continue giving something back after my playing career is something I truly enjoy," said Klein, who wore the German jersey 187 times.

 

For Hens, the role is also an honour. "We are a handball-crazy nation. A major tournament is always special, but when you experience it in your own country, the media attention and the atmosphere are unique. It is a great honour for me to represent my sport publicly. I played for Germany for many years, and I see this role as a great appreciation of my career and my connection to handball."

Kretzschmar, whose personality has always extended well beyond the handball court, spoke about a sense of lifelong purpose. "All my life I have seen myself as an ambassador for handball. Taking on this role for the World Championship makes me proud. It is a great honour to represent our sport, to bring it further into society and strengthen its presence there. Being an ambassador allows me to actively be part of the tournament, and I'm really looking forward to that."

Althaus, meanwhile, framed her involvement in deeply personal terms. "For me, handball is much more than just a sport. Handball is my world, my passion, my life. I love the entire handball community and want to help inspire even more people for this unique sport. A World Championship on home soil means pure emotions. The diversity of the fans, the different mentalities and the shared passion for handball create an atmosphere you can only truly experience live."

The 30th IHF Men's World Championship will take place in Germany from 13 to 31 January 2027, under the motto "Where handball is alive." The preliminary round will be hosted across Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel and Magdeburg, with Hanover and Cologne staging the main round — and Cologne hosting the final weekend. Germany open their campaign in Munich, with the potential to move to Cologne for the main round should they progress.

Germany's preliminary round matches in Munich and their main round matches in Cologne are already sold out. The preliminary round draw takes place in Munich on 10 June 2026. Further information and tickets are available at www.handball2027.com.

Photo credit: DHB / Jolina Born