Hungary qualified for Croatia 2026 thanks to a fourth-placed finish at the EHF EURO last year in Alanya, Turkiye. Having entered the continental event as title-holders, after winning the 2023 edition.

The Hungarians missed out on defending their crown after losing to Spain via shoot-out in the semi-finals. They had recorded three wins in the preliminary group stage, against Ukraine (2-0), Italy (2-1) and Norway (2-0), plus two in the main round, Sweden (2-0), Spain (2-0) and one loss, against France (1-2).

In the quarter-finals, Portugal were seen off (2-1) before that loss to Spain in the last four (1-2). A bronze medal match then came against Croatia, which was also lost via shoot-out. Norbert Gyene ended up as second top-scorer in the championship, with 135 points.

Hungary enter Croatia 2026 under new coach Tamas Hajdu after Istvan Gulyas – in charge since 2014 – stepped down.

With Hadju will come a fresh outlook on the team who will be desperate to get a global podium spot after finishing in a joint-lowest historic ranking last time out at China 2024, when they ended in seventh spot.

On Pingtan Island two years ago the Hungarians topped their preliminary group, beating Oman (2-0), Australia (2-0) and Denmark (2-1). Their main round experience saw just one win, against Croatia 2026 preliminary group opponents Tunisia 2-0 (26:12, 20:18) with two 2-0 losses against Spain and Brazil, but it was enough to seal a quarter-final spot.

However, they did not manage to turn around their form, losing 2-1 to both Croatia in the quarter-finals and Brazil in the 5-8 placement round to ensure their lowly ranking, despite beating Argentina 2-1 in the 7/8 placement match.

Despite that disappointment, the end of the Gulyas era will be remembered as one of medals and a place at the top table of world handball. During his time the team reached semi-finals of The World Games, World Championship, European Championship and European Games seven times, picking up 2018 world championship bronze that European gold in 2023 and silver at the European Games.

Hadju is no stranger to the team though, having been involved with the set-up across two decades, first as a player, then assistant coach.

He will oversee a squad which features numerous 2023 European champions, some of whom were members of the youth team which won European gold a decade earlier – including Gyene, Patrik Vizes and Attila Kun. Both Kun and coach Hadju played in the IHF Beach Handball Showcase, held on the sidelines of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games two years ago.

Another key, experienced player will be Andras John who is the longest-serving member of the team and former teammate of Hadju. John made his debut back in 2009 and is one of the last players from that youth generation to still be playing as Hadju oversees a move through to a new generation.

Coach: Tamas Hajdu
Key Players: Andras John, Patrik Vizes
Qualification information: 2025 EHF European Beach Handball Championship – 4th
History in Tournament: 2004: 6th, 2006: 5th, 2008: 7th, 2010: 2nd, 2012-2014: DNQ, 2016: 4th, 2018: 3rd, 2022: DNQ, 2024: 7th

Group at Croatia 2026: Group B: Hungary, Denmark, Tunisia, Puerto Rico