Africa, Asia, South America and Europe are all represented as Group IV of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship starts at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, northern Germany on Wednesday (3 December).

In Group I, the battle between Hungary and Romania will drastically influence the outcome of the qualification picture, while Denmark look to add their fourth consecutive win when they take on Senegal.

Main Round, Group I

15:30 CET Japan vs Switzerland

Japan secured their main round ticket on the final day, bouncing back from losses to Romania and Denmark to defeat Croatia 25:19 in a must-win duel. They now carry zero points into this stage, hoping to improve on their 17th-place finish from 2023.

Switzerland arrive with two points, having come close to starting the main round at the top. After edging Senegal 25:24, they pushed Hungary hard in their final match, leading for almost the entire first half. However, their own mistakes in the second half proved costly, allowing Hungary to seize control and win convincingly.

Swiss goalkeeper Lea Schüpbach has been outstanding so far, especially against Hungary, where she stopped 37% of all shots. Their attack is led by Tabea Schmid, who has already scored 22 goals. Japan counts on Natsuki Aizawa with 15 goals and Clare Francis Gray with 13 as their most consistent scorers. All are ready for their first-ever encounter.

18:00 CET Hungary vs Romania

Hungary enter the main round in one of the strongest positions, alongside Denmark, carrying four points after a perfect performance in the group phase. They defeated Senegal 26:17, crushed Iran 47:13, and in their final match turned a shaky first half into a powerful second-half surge to beat Switzerland 32:25. Hungary struggled early with efficiency and defensive performances, but once reorganised, they overran the Swiss and closed the game with authority. This second-half version is the one they aim to bring into this clash.

Romania arrive with two points, having beaten Croatia 33:24 and Japan 31:27, before falling to Denmark 31:39 in a top-of-the-group duel. Romania pushed Denmark throughout and might have taken more had it not been for another standout performance from Anna Kristensen and Denmark’s lethal fast breaks.

A high-quality encounter awaits the Rotterdam crowd, not only because of form and stakes, but also because of the weight of history. These two nations have met over 30 times, including 13 World Championship duels. Hungary hold seven wins, Romania six, and their most recent clash came at the Women’s EHF EURO 2024, where Hungary won 37:29.

Hungary’s attack is driven by Gréta Márton, who has scored 18 goals so far, with Petra Simon orchestrating brilliantly on 14 assists. Romania lean heavily on Sorina-Maria Grozav, who has netted 24 times, and Lorena-Gabriela Ostase with 17 goals.

20:30 CET Denmark vs Senegal

Denmark enter the main round with three wins from three and all four points on the board, fully living up to their role as one of the major contenders at Germany/Netherlands 2025. Despite several important absences before the championship, Helle Thomsen’s side continue to show their trademark rhythm and pace.

They also boast one of the best attacks of the competition so far, averaging 36.67 goals per match. Their squad is equally efficient, with five players already in double digits, led by Andrea Aagot and Elma Halilčević with 15 goals each. Between the posts, Anna Kristensen and Amalie Milling remain key. Justicia Toubissa Elbeco has been between the posts for Senegal, while Raissa Dapina leads the attack with 13 goals.

Senegal, the 2024 CAHB African Women’s Championship runners-up, are back in the main round once again, after finishing 18th in both 2021 and 2023. At the start of their third main round campaign, they now face their toughest challenge yet. Senegal have shown good effort throughout the group phase: a narrow 24:25 loss to Switzerland, a 17:26 defeat against Hungary, and a crucial 30:21 win over Iran.

Main Round, Group IV
15:30 CET Czechia vs Angola

Both teams will feel like their chances of progression to the main round will be non-existent if they were to lose this opener of group IV in Dortmund as the duo were only able to take two points each with them through to the second stage.

Czechia come off the back of a clear win against Cuba in a match where they were hardly tested while the African champions faced the reigning Olympic and European title-holders Norway to conclude their campaign in Trier.

Angola will have to be aware of the power of Czechia’s Charlotte Cholevova (20 goals in three games), while captain Albertina Kassoma is always a handful for any defence or attack but will have to be on her best behaviour to avoid two early two-minute suspensions inside the first 10 minutes as she did against Norway which saw her withdrawn by coach Carlos Viver for most of the remainder of the match.

18:00 CET Brazil vs Republic of Korea

The South and Central American champions come into this clash full of power after defeating the strong Sweden in their final preliminary group game in Stuttgart (31:27) on Monday, ending the first phase with three wins from three games.

With a solitary win over Kazakhstan in the SWT Arena in Trier, Korea do not bring any points into the main round and face a near-impossible task to progress.

Lacking firepower from distance, the traditional quick, fast-break counter-attack has not been on show as the Asian silver medallists continue to blood young and inexperienced players at the beginning of this new Olympic cycle.

20:30 CET Norway vs Sweden

In one of the most played derby games in handball, Norway and Sweden have met 142 times since 1946, Sweden taking 96 wins and losing 35 times. Despite the decades of success from the Norwegians – current Olympic and European champions too – the Swedes took the honours last time these two met – at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Nathalie Hagman’s eight strikes helping her side to a 32:28 preliminary group win.

After that disappointing loss to Brazil, which saw the Swedes take just two points into the main round, this match is extra-important against a Norwegian side under new coach Ole Gustav Rejkstad but looking just as strong as they have ever done, taking three wins out of three in Trier.

“Now we can only see opportunities ahead,” said Sweden’s Mathilda Lundström to handbollslandslaget.se. “Against Norway we have to play a defensive game that is tight and compact. Then we have good conditions. We enter the main round with the goal of winning all three matches and have had good results against them in recent years.”

Sweden were dealt a double blow against Brazil. After bringing back Anna Lagerquist for the clash, after a foot injury, she lasted 20 minutes before suffering a new injury with Vilma Matthijs Holmberg now remaining in the squad.