Australia qualified for Croatia 2026 thanks to winning the 2026 OCHF Oceania Beach Handball Championship held in New Zealand last February.

After losing their preliminary group game against fierce rivals New Zealand 2-0 (19:16, 25:20), Australia’s men came into day two with just one win to their name, against Cook Islands (2-0, 32:8, 20:13). A dominant 2-0 (30:9, 33:4) win over Kiribati on day two ensured a rematch against the Kiwis in the gold medal match and they ensured they sent the host nation fans home heartbroken as a tough final ended 2-0 (24:22, 21:20) in the Aussie’s favour.

The second set had gone to a golden goal period after both sides missed attacks in the last 20 seconds of regulation time. After winning the restart in additional time, Christopher Pinder eventually found himself in space on the left wing and sunk home the single point to spark jubilant scenes from the Australians who confirmed their seventh appearance on the global stage after missing just one edition since their debut (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2024, 2026). 

Their best world championship ranking remains 11th in 2014, with their position of 14th last time out, at China 2024, their lowest historic finish.

On the sand on Pingtan Island, the Aussies lost all three preliminary group games 2-0, against Denmark, Hungary and Croatia 2026 opponents, Oman. This pushed them into the consolation round, where they beat Puerto Rico (2-0) and lost to Uruguay and People’s Republic of China (both 2-0). Their 9-16 placement round matches featured 2-0 losses against Qatar and the USA, but another win against Puerto Rico (2-1), ensured they finished in 14th.

In Zagreb, Australia have been drawn into an interesting group featuring debutants France, Asian champions Oman and host nation – and world championship title-holders – Croatia.

“We are very excited to take on the world's best and show them what we can do,” said coach Lucas Turecek to ihf.info. “We are striving to make it out of the group stage and place inside the top 12. It will not be an easy competition but we are here to take it head on.”

“Oman are a common adversary for Australia in global event and we have a competitive and exciting game history with them – we are looking forward to the next instalment of this rivalry,” added Turecek.

“It will be the first time we face France and an exciting opportunity to play a new team from the European continent, while playing Croatia is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play the reigning champion as hosts at their home venue.”

Turecek, one of the highest-capped players for the Aussie men’s beach handball team has picked a squad full of experience, youth and some returning familiar faces. 

Co-captains are Daniel Fogerty, a defender/pivot who has been in the squad since The World Games 2017 and winger/pivot Nathan Deslandes who moved over from athletics to play beach handball.

Daniel Babich, Australian Men's Beach Handball Team Manager took time out to tell ihf.info about a quartet of debutants making their bow on the sand in Croatia, with many years of handball experience behind them all.

“Jeremie Siguan is a very quick left-handed winger and defender and Pierre-Guillaume Nicolas is a very clever playmaker and specialist,” he explained. “Thomas Gerstch is a long time and highly-decorated Australian indoor national team goalkeeper since 2014, while Mitchell Cunningham is a long-time squad member and making his first senior appearance since that as a wing at the 2017 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship in Mauritius.”

Not present with the squad this time are Matthew Campbell, who made his world championship debut in 2014 and is now focusing on his professional career, working on the international golf circuit as a medical professional, while the young goalkeeping pair of George Alfieris and Ben Wesley have now switched their focus to indoor handball. Specialist Ignacio Oleaga Ballester has retired to focus on his family.

To prepare for Croatia 2026, the team – the same squad as selected by Turecek for the Oceania Championship – travelled to Gaeta, Italy to compete on the ebt stage ‘Calise Cup’.

Coach: Lucas Turecek
    
Key Players: Daniel Fogerty, Nathan Deslandes, Christopher Pinder

Qualification information: 2026 OCHF Oceania Beach Handball Championship – 1st

History in Tournament: 2004-2008: DNQ, 2010: 12th, 2012: 12th, 2014: 11th, 2016: 12th, 2018: 13th, 2022: DNQ, 2024: 14th

Group at Croatia 2026: Group D: Croatia, France, Oman, Australia