As the preliminary round of the 2025 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship nears its conclusion, the final day of group play promises decisive action across all venues. By the end of Saturday’s matches, the 16 teams that will advance to the main round will be confirmed. With crucial points on the line to carry over into the next phase, every goal and result could shape the road to the title.

Group A
(all hours local time - CEST)

16:15 – Slovenia vs Uruguay
18:30 – Norway vs Poland

Group B
11:45 – Argentina vs Brazil
14:00 – Austria vs Hungary

Group C
16:15 – Republic of Korea vs United States
18:30 – Sweden vs Japan

Group D
11:45 – Algeria vs Canada
14:00 – Portugal vs Croatia

Group E
16:15 – Morocco vs Mexico
18:30 – Denmark vs France

Group F
11:45 – Romania vs Faroe Islands
14:00 – Iceland vs North Macedonia

Group G
18:45 – Serbia vs Switzerland
21:00 – Germany vs Tunisia

Group H
11:45 – Bahrain vs Saudi Arabia
14:00 – Spain vs Egypt

• 12 main round berths have already been decided, with four still left. The main battle will be in Group A, where Norway and Slovenia are tied on three points, while Poland have two points, as the hosts face Norway
• Another open spot will be decided in Group F, where Romania made it to the main round, but can still start the next phase with zero points, as they face the Faroe Islands, while Iceland and North Macedonia face off in the second match, when everything could be decided
• France take on Denmark, while Spain face Egypt, with all sides qualified, but aiming for a better start in the main round, with the winners taking the points into the next phase
• Faroe Islands' Oli Mittun is still the top scorer of the competition, with 26 goals, followed by Romania's Daniel Stanciuc (24 goals) and Iceland's Elmar Erlingsson, who has 21 goals

GROUP A
18:30 CEST – Norway vs Poland

While Slovenia, who have three points and face last-placed Uruguay in their final group match, seem to have the best chance of progressing from Group A, Norway and Poland will meet in a do-or-die clash. The Norwegians also have three points, so even a draw is likely to see them through, while Poland must win to secure a spot among the top 16 teams in the competition.

Norway, who dropped a point in their opening match against Slovenia (33:33), earned their first win two days later with a 36:17 victory over Uruguay. Lasse Sunde Lid stood out with eight goals in that game, while goalkeeper Henrik Ibsen made eight saves for an impressive 80% save rate after coming on as a substitute midway through the second half.

Poland had beaten Uruguay by an even wider margin on Wednesday (39:16), but the home side received a harsh reality check in their second match, suffering a 21:31 defeat to Slovenia. With numerous mistakes and just a 54% shooting efficiency, Bartosz Jurecki's men came up short and remain on two points, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the crucial match against Norway.

"The fans supported us a lot; we let them down, but tomorrow is another match. Now we go back to the hotel, we will have a video analysis, and then we try to forget about this match and focus on the next one," said Polish captain Patryk Wasiak.

GROUP B
14:00 CEST – Austria vs Hungary

With a maximum of four points from two matches, both European sides have already secured their main round berths, but much is still at stake in their mutual encounter, as the winner will carry two points into the next stage of the competition.

Austria currently top the group thanks to a better goal difference—+14 compared to Hungary’s +10. While the Austrians made a second-half comeback in their opener against Argentina, their second match followed a different script. They led Brazil by nine goals at halftime (23:14) and then slowed down, possibly to conserve energy for upcoming challenges.

"Against Hungary, it will be important to play the full 60 minutes at our level for the first time, and I think that's our goal. It will be a big final against Hungary," said Austria's coach Michael Draca.

Interestingly, Hungary have won both of their matches by the same five-goal margin. After a 29:24 opening victory against Brazil, they defeated Argentina 36:31. Led by Levente Tóth, Hungary's attack delivered well on Friday, but their defence and goalkeeping still have room for improvement. The match against Austria will be a serious test for the runners-up of the 2023 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship.

GROUP D
14:00 CEST – Portugal vs Croatia

Both Portugal and Croatia have already secured progression, having proven too strong for their rivals Algeria and Canada. On Saturday, they will battle not only for the top position in Group D but also for the vital points to carry into the main round. The winner of the clash will improve their chances of going far at Poland 2025.

Following a 12-goal opening win over Algeria, Portugal showed no mercy to Canada, handing the North Americans a crushing 45:12 defeat. José Ferreira stood out with 13 goals and was named Player of the Match, while goalkeeper Gonçalo Morgado had a crucial impact, saving 57% of the shots he faced.

"We knew from the beginning that the game against Croatia would be the most important in this first phase. That was confirmed, and our objective remains the same, which is to advance to the main round with points. To do that, we will have to play a good game. We will face an excellent team, but I believe that if we are at our best level, we will be able to beat Croatia," said Portugal’s coach Carlos Martingo.

Croatia are currently second in Group D on goal difference, with +35 compared to Portugal’s +43. Nevertheless, the Balkan side can be satisfied with their performance. On Friday, they had the upper hand against Algeria, winning 35:24. Goalkeepers Tin Herzeg and Nikola Kahlina combined for 19 saves, while 12 of their 14 outfield players scored at least once—boosting team confidence ahead of this key encounter.

GROUP E
18:30 CEST – Denmark vs France

European powerhouses clash for the top spot in Group E after both teams secured their places in the main round. With carry-over points at stake, the final match of the day in Katowice will decide who finishes first in the group and gains a better position heading into the next phase.

Denmark opened their campaign with two convincing wins, defeating both Mexico and Morocco with high-scoring performances. Their squad has shown strong scoring distribution, with 12 of 14 outfield players getting on the scoresheet in their most recent match. Mathias Kragh Pedersen contributed significantly on both ends of the court, making an impact in both attack and defence, and currently holds fifth place on the competition's top scorers list with 17 goals.

France faced more resistance—especially against Morocco—but managed to secure both wins. Naël Tighiouart led the team with convincing performances in both matches, while their rotation proved crucial in the game against Morocco. The team is aiming to improve on their 11th-place finish from the previous edition.

This will be the 13th meeting between the two sides. In the previous twelve, France recorded five wins while Denmark won seven. The result of this match will determine which team takes important points into the main round.

GROUP F
11:45 CEST – Romania vs Faroe Islands

The third day of competition in Katowice brings a high-stakes showdown as Romania and the Faroe Islands face off for the first time at this level. Both teams are aiming to secure the top spot in Group F and carry crucial points into the main round.

Romania have already secured their main round berth after two hard-fought victories. A comeback win against North Macedonia followed their opening success against Iceland, and now they seek a third straight win. Centre back Daniel Stanciuc has been at the heart of their performance, scoring 24 goals—making him the second-highest scorer in the competition, just two behind his next opponent, Óli Mittún.

The Faroe Islands remain unbeaten but not flawless—a win over North Macedonia and a draw against Iceland. In their last game, they let a late lead slip but salvaged a point thanks to a buzzer-beater by Óli Mittún, who continues to lead the scoring charts.

Both teams have shown defensive vulnerabilities but have responded well under pressure. Still, Romania holds a slight edge, having conceded 49 goals in two games compared to the Faroe Islands' 59—an average of five more goals conceded per game.

GROUP G
18:45 CEST – Serbia vs Switzerland

With a main round spot at stake, both European sides will feel the immense pressure. For Switzerland, returning after missing four consecutive editions, this opportunity is especially vital. Meanwhile, Serbia, whose previous generation finished fourth in 2023, will be determined not to disappoint.

The equation is simple: win and you're in the main round. After recovering from a narrow opening loss (29:30) to Germany, Serbia reignited their hopes with a dominant 38:33 win over Tunisia.

Now they face Switzerland, who are also on two points but are coming off a heavy defeat to the defending champions. For Serbia, the key could be their defence and goalkeeper Nikola Zorić, who boasts a 31% save rate and averages 12 saves per match. Uroš Mitrović continues to be their go-to scorer.

Switzerland’s defence crumbled against Germany, conceding 43 goals, but their attack still delivered 33. With Luca Sigrist, Nikos Sarlos, and Tiago Cuencas contributing 56% of all Swiss goals in two games, they will need to tighten their backline to pose a serious challenge to Serbia.

Group H
14:00 CEST – Spain vs Egypt

The clash between reigning European champions Spain and African title holders Egypt promises special excitement in Kielce on Saturday. Both teams have already secured their main round spots with two wins each, but this match will determine who tops Group H and carries points into the next phase.

Spain have dominated so far, beating Bahrain and Saudi Arabia with ease. Their squad rotation has worked well, and multiple players have stepped up. Víctor Romero and Ian Barrufet have been their top scorers, while Petar Cikuša—after limited minutes in the first two matches—may now take on a more prominent role.

Egypt, on the other hand, were tested more. Despite winning both games, they had to work harder to secure the points. Against Saudi Arabia, Yassin Salem stood out with a complete performance, while Mohamed Mahmoud and Feras Ragab made the difference in the match against Bahrain.

This will be the 11th meeting between the two nations at this level, with Spain leading the head-to-head 8:1, along with one draw—the draw coming from their last encounter in the 2013 group phase.