Dear Handball Friends,

The 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship is over and it gives me immense pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations and deepest gratitude to the host nations, teams, players, members of the technical staffs, volunteers, and everyone involved in the exceptional organisation of the event.

The 2025 IHF Men's World Championship was a celebration of handball at its finest. For the first time in history, three countries – Croatia, Denmark and Norway – joined forces to deliver the best possible conditions for our competition to thrive and inspire millions of people.

We had 20 matches with an attendance higher than 10,000 spectators, great atmosphere in all the five venues, excellent fair play moments – which will set the tone for the future generations – and some great handball on display, with the best players in the world offering unforgettable moments.

We witnessed greatness, both on and off the court, with 533,060 spectators being in the stands and enjoying our fantastic sport, with new attendance records for a Norway national team’s match on their home court, as well as a maiden qualification for the quarter-finals for Brazil.

With two teams from outside Europe among the top eight in the final standings, we proved again that handball has a bright future ahead, a future we will safeguard and preserve, making the sport more and more popular throughout the world.

All the 32 participating teams deserve to be applauded for their performance in the competition, providing the highest possible standard of handball. They are all heroes.

But equally important is the invaluable work done behind the scenes. The level of professionalism and meticulous planning that has gone into this event will undoubtedly make this championship one for the history books.

I would like to extend a special note of thanks to the Organising Committees, the host cities, and the local authorities who have worked tirelessly to ensure that every detail is in place. Their commitment to excellence was evident in every aspect of this event, from the preparation of world-class arenas to the seamless coordination of logistics and operations. Their efforts not only ensured the success of the championship but also strengthened the global handball community, leaving a lasting legacy for the sport we all cherish.

Equally, I want to express my gratitude to the players, coaches, and officials who made this championship such a fantastic one that will be remembered throughout the years. It is their hard work and passion that brings the sport to life, providing entertaining and dramatic matches. We all witnessed some extraordinary performances and intense competition that the 2025 IHF Men's World Championship delivered in droves.

All the participating teams raised the bar, with Denmark winning their fourth consecutive title, while Croatia and France completed the podium. Big and warm congratulations are also due to the fourth-placed side, Portugal, who achieved their best-ever result in the competition.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to the thousands of volunteers whose tireless support and enthusiasm played an essential role in ensuring the smooth execution of this championship. Their selfless dedication represents the true spirit of handball and is deeply appreciated by all of us.

Handball is a game of skill, speed and determination. I am happy that we saw the spirit of the sport in the last month in Croatia, Denmark and Norway and that we were all inspired by handball.

Together, let’s continue to nurture and celebrate the spirit of handball.