The International Handball Federation (IHF) is pleased to announce that Opel will become an official sponsor of the 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany.

The agreement marks an important step in Opel’s growing commitment to handball. From 1 July 2026, the German manufacturer will also become a strategic partner of the German national handball teams, both women’s and men’s, and will serve as title sponsor of the Handball-Bundesliga, which will officially be renamed the Opel Handball-Bundesliga.

The agreement with the IHF was brokered by the sports rights and marketing agency SPORTFIVE.

“As a German manufacturer, we are proud to support the Handball World Championship in our home country as a key player. We are already looking forward to exciting games, a great atmosphere and the possibility of presenting Opel to a global fan community. This agreement represents the third pillar in our commitment to handball, and we look forward to playing our part in making the World Championship an unforgettable event,” said Patrick Dinger, Head of Opel Germany.

 

IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa welcomed the partnership, underlining the shared values between Opel and handball.

“We are delighted to welcome Opel as an official partner of the International Handball Federation. This partnership brings together two names that share a deep commitment to performance and a passion for reaching new heights. Opel is a brand with a proud heritage, a big and bold history behind it and a creative vision for the future, qualities that resonate strongly with everything handball stands for. Together, we look forward to taking our sport to new audiences and creating experiences that will leave a lasting impression on the handball family around the world.”

SPORTFIVE Chief Growth Officer Robert Müller von Vultejus highlighted the added value of the partnership beyond brand visibility: “With Opel, we are welcoming a strong event partner that supports the IHF Handball World Championships not only in terms of brand presence, but also operationally. As the official automotive partner, Opel will make a significant contribution to the smooth delivery of the tournament by providing shuttle services in Germany. This partnership is a strong example of integrated engagements that effectively combine brand visibility, functionality, and event excellence.”

Strong visibility across Germany 2027

As official mobility partner, Opel will be present across all venues during the 30th IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany, which will take place under the slogan “Where handball is alive” from 13 to 31 January 2027.

The company’s involvement will extend beyond logo presence, with activation areas at all venues, customer engagement initiatives, ticket raffles, backstage tours and dealer-driven promotional activities helping bring the championship closer to fans.

Opel’s presence will be supported by its latest models, including the Astra, Astra Sports Tourer and Grandland SUV, as well as the new high-performance GSE line, with the Mokka GSE and upcoming Corsa GSE reflecting the brand’s sporty, electric direction.

A long sporting tradition

Opel’s relationship with sport stretches back decades, with a strong presence in motorsport and a long-standing record of partnerships in football and other disciplines. The brand was also closely connected to handball in 1990, when it served as main and jersey sponsor of the German men’s national team at the Men’s World Championship.

The 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship will be held in Munich, Stuttgart, Kiel, Magdeburg, Hanover and Cologne between 13 and 31 January 2027, with the opening match in Munich and the final set for Cologne’s LANXESS Arena. Germany will host the IHF Men’s World Championship for the eighth time, and the three-time world champions last lifted the trophy on home soil in 2007.