The final 32 games of the 2024 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships main round take place on Friday (21 June) at the 'Pingtan International Beach Sports Base' on Pingtan Island, People's Republic of China.

With eight teams already qualified through to the quarter-finals; four in the men’s competition and four in the women’s competition – four places in each competition are still available for the knockout stages of the global event.

All teams will play one game in the morning session and one in the afternoon/evening session with the top four teams in each main round group – two groups in each competition – moving through to the quarter-finals.

For all matches on Day 4, see the end of this article.

Philippines and Croatia to play-off for quarter-final spot

Anja Vida Luksic’s 14 points helped guide her Croatia side to a 2-0 (20:18, 16:18, SO 10:4) victory over hosts China to keep their hopes alive for a quarter-final ticket. With that loss and an earlier loss against Philippines, China’s women are now out of contention, even if they win their last match against Spain this evening – they can now only reach a maximum of two points, with Croatia and Philippines both sitting on the same points, but having both beaten them.

Spain handed their neighbours Portugal their first loss of China 2024, winning 28:10, 17:14, to also confirm their spot in the last eight, while Argentina won their fifth game in a row at China 2024, Giselle Bonomi’s 18 points helping towards a 2-0 (20:16, 23:12) victory over the Philippines.

With Denmark and Brazil already qualified through to the quarter-finals from Group II, Norway vs Greece had the most depending on it with both teams having won just one of their four games at China 2024 so far and without points at this stage.

And Greece’s Eleni Ioanna Kerlidi had her mind set on pushing her side towards the knockout stage, scoring 25 points as Greece won 2-1 (24:20, 16:21, SO 14:12) to move up to two points. Should Germany beat Norway later and Greece beat Netherlands, the Greeks will go through at the expense of the Dutch thanks to their head-to-head record.

But the Netherlands look the strongest of the two sides as they overpowered Brazil 2-0 (28:24, 20:19) to move up to four points and will be motivated to secure their passage through. They will face an empowered Greek side later, who hope Germany can defeat Norway. The Germans, despite being through, will be tested as their only goalkeeper in China - Nele Kurzke - received a red card late in the first set in their 2-0 loss against Denmark and will miss their final main round game. Julia Drachsler took over duties for the rest of the game.

In the consolation round, 14 points from Allira Hudson-Gofers helped her Australia side to a 2-0 (16:10, 19:18) victory over Puerto, while Quynh Do Thi Nhu and Thi Hanh Ha combined for 39 points to help Vietnam to victory against the USA.

Tunisia, Qatar and Oman out as Spain and Denmark progress to men’s quarter-finals

Debutants Tunisia did all they could to fight for a place in the last eight in the opening session of the last day of main round, clashes – Achraf Margheli’s 16 points guiding them to a 2-0 (16:14, 16:14) victory over Oman, but across the Pingtan International Beach Sports Base on central court, Spain were handing European champions Hungary their first defeat at China 2024 – 0-2 (23:26, 22:27) and with, it a guarantee that Spain would take the fourth and last spot from the group through to the quarter-finals.

With the result, it means that even if Spain loses tonight against Oman and Tunisia beat Denmark, thanks to their head-to-head victory in the preliminary round, Spain will go through if they end on the same points. The defeat of Oman by Tunisia means the Omanis are out contention for a medal too.

Denmark’s Simon Moss and Mikkel Stark combined for 31 points as they saw off Brazil via shoot-out (14:18, 25:24, SO 9:8) 2-1 to keep their hopes alive of finishing top of their group the group

Group II saw two of the three games go to shoot out with Croatia’s Ivan Juric and Ivan Dumencic saving the last two USA shots for a 6:4 win (20:22, 26:16, SO 6:4) to keep their winning record intact. A more epic encounter saw Qatar – who finished in fifth spot last time out – crash out after Argentina eventually won in the shoot-out thanks to a single pointer from Lucas Matias Coronel 2-1 (20:18, 16:17, SO 11:10). The Asian champions had got to that stage thanks to a golden goal in the second set but they could not keep the momentum going into the shots.

With Qatar out at the bottom of the group on zero points and both the USA and Argentina playing each other later and only able to get four points each, Portugal have now qualified for the quarter-finals, despite losing against Germany 0-2.

In the consolation round Puerto Rico got their first win of China 2024, defeating the host nation thanks to the 20 points from Luis Guillermo Gratacos Rodríguez, while Uruguay beat Australia 2-0 (28:16, 24:20).

All games will be streamed live on the IHF Competitions YouTube channel (geo-restrictions will apply) click HERE for more information.

Results (morning) – Friday 21 June 2024

Men’s Competition

Consolation Round
URU vs AUS 2-0 (28:16, 24:20) 
PUR vs CHN 2-0 (26:25, 22:16)

Main Round, Group I
HUN vs ESP 0-2 (23:26, 22:27)
DEN vs BRA 2-1 (14:18, 25:24, SO 9:8) 
OMA vs TUN 0-2 (14:16, 14:16)

Main Round, Group II
CRO vs USA 2-1 (20:22, 26:16, SO 6:4) 
ARG vs QAT 2-1 (20:18, 16:17, SO 11:10)
POR vs GER 0-2 (18:25, 12:17)

Women’s Competition

Consolation Round
PUR vs AUS 0-2 (10:16, 18:19)
USA vs VIE 0-2 (22:25, 26:29)

Main Round, Group I
PHI vs ARG 0-2 (16:20, 12:23)
POR vs ESP 0-2 (10:28, 14:17)
CHN vs CRO 1-2 (18:20, 18:16, SO 4:10)

Main Round, Group II
DEN vs GER 2-0 (20:18, 21:12)
NED vs BRA (28:24, 20:19)
NOR vs GRE 1-2 (20:24, 21:16, SO 12:14)

Match schedule (afternoon/evening) – Friday 21 June 2024
all times local

Men’s Competition

Consolation Round
1630 AUS vs CHN, PUR vs URU

Main Round, Group I
1630 DEN vs TUN
1720 HUN vs BRA, OMA vs ESP

Main Round, Group II
1900 CRO vs GER, POR vs QAT, ARG vs USA

Women’s Competition

Consolation Round
1630 USA vs PUR
1720 AUS vs VIE

Main Round, Group I
1810 POR vs ARG, PHI vs CRO, CHN vs ESP

Main Round, Group II
1950 DEN vs BRA, NED vs GRE
2040 NOR vs GER