The second day of the 2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach handball World Championships in Zagreb saw the preliminary group stage conclude at Lake Jarun.

Islamic Republic of Iran, Argentina and Oman men grab last spots in main round

Group A completed with Spain taking the top spot with three wins from three as four missed shots from Portugal ensured a 6:2 Spanish shoot-out win. Islamic Republic of Iran defeated the USA  2-0 (25:20, 22:18) to take the final main round spot from the group, thanks to 19 points from Ali Heidarian.

“This world championship is a tough tournament and all the teams are powerful, and give 100%,” said Iran coach Mehdi Ghashghaei Rad to ihf.info.

“We were in the a tough preliminary group because Spain and Portugal are some of the best teams in the world and the United States are better than before. So this has been tough work for us and last night we were not lucky against Portugal, but this is sport, no problem.

“We were focused for this match against the United States,” he added, “and now we going to the next round without points which will be difficult, but we will try to show to the handball family across the world and Iran that we have grown. Our team here is one of the youngest teams with an average age of 24 and I believe that this team can be one of the best world championship teams in the future.”

With the teams in group B progressing through to the main round decided on the opening day, Denmark, Tunisia and Hungary all battled it out for top spot.

A monster 27 points from Martin Andersen helped Denmark to a 2-0 win over African champions Tunisia, but it was not enough to finish top as Hungary made it three wins from three, defeating Puerto Rico 2-0, who went into the consolation round, Tunisia taking the final main round group spot.

Brazilian youngster Aldrin Andrade was unable to score in the shoot-out as his miss ensured The World Games title-holders Germany took a 2-1 (22:23, 20:18, SO 9:8) victory and maximum points carried through to the next stage from group C.

In the play-off for the final main round spot from the group, debutants Italy narrowly missed out, as Argentina won 2-1 (14:18, 21:14, SO 9:8), Jorge Nahuel Perez Baptista scoring 21 points for the south American side as Italy’s Nicolas Balogh saw his shot saved.

Asian and Oceania title-holders Oman and Australia played out a hard-fought match for the final main round spot from group D, but 20 points from Alyazen Albusaidi ensured Oman will finish higher than their 15th spot at China 2024. The group decider between title-holders and hosts Croatia, against debutants France ended with a third, straight win for the Croatians, Filip Goricanec racking up 16 points in the victory.

Top-scorers after the preliminary group stage:

1. Martin Andersen, Denmark (63 points)
2. Norbert Gyene, Hungary (52)
3. Diogo Ferreira, Portugal (50)

Uruguay and Puerto Rico book main round spots as Brazil and Germany women look strong 

Title-holders Germany defeated Netherlands 2-0 (23:20, 19:15) to claim top spot in group A with three wins from three as Isabel Kattner and Meike Kruijer for Germany and Netherlands respectively battled it out for 14 points each as top-scorers.

The other game in the group saw Vietnam knocked out of main round contention by Uruguay 10:5 via shoot-out as the Asian champions missed two shots and score a single-shot in the shoot-out. Vietnam had won the second set 15:14 thanks to a golden goal. 

“At first, I was sad because we had the chance to win, before the golden goal, but after that I was sure we will win the game in the shoot-out,” said Uruguay’s Romina Boschiero to ihf.info.

“Now, we go into the main round now where all teams are equal. We don't care who the other teams are, like with Germany (yesterday, when they took the world champions to a shoot-out, but lost 8:4). We knew they were strong, that they are world champions, but it wasn’t important for us at the moment we played and we will just keep playing how we’ve been playing. It’s simple – we want to win.

“It was a long process to be here and we have sacrificed a lot to be here, with our money,” she added. “But it’s incredible to be here to play and represent our country with the support of our federation and all the Uruguayan people – it’s a pleasure.”

Spain took on Croatia in group B to decide the winners, with the host nation impressing, only losing to a second set golden goal. Over on court four, Puerto Rico made history to record their highest-ever world ranking after a 15th place finish in their previous world championship appearance. Their 2-0 win over debutants Cook Islands, led by 12 points from captain Yadielis Barros, saw the NACHC side move into the main round for the first time.

“We feel very grateful. Most of the teams here train together throughout the year, we only train a few months before the championship. It is very great this ranking, we’re happy, it’s something new,” said Barros to ihf.info. “The Cook Islands match was different for us, we had to adjust some stuff but we did our work.”

Brazil won the ‘group of champions’ with three wins from three in group C. Led by 14 points from Beatriz Correia, the three-time world champions breezed past the USA to ensure maximum points in the group. 

Eleftheria Trochidou scored 16 points as 2018 champions Greece took second spot, defeating 2010 world champions Norway 2-0. The Norwegians move into the main round with 0 points.

“We are satisfied, of course but we had the chance to bring two more points to the main round but we didn’t make it against Brazil,” said Greece coach Maria Karantoni to ihf.info. “But we think positive, and our next goal is to qualify in the next eight teams.”

With Benin confirming their withdrawal from the event due to visa issues in Croatia, group D was already confirmed ahead of the final preliminary day with Argentina, Philippines and Denmark all through to the main round.

Line Larsen scored 16 points against Philippine to secure a 2-0 win to top the group and take the maximum four points into the main round. Argentina were awarded a 2-0 victory against Benin due to the African champions withdrawing from the championship and forfeiting their game.

Top-scorers after the preliminary group stage:

1. Beatriz Correia, Brazil (56 points)
2. Anna Buter, Netherlands (45)
3. Ngoc Trinh Lu, Vietnam (41)

2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships: results

Wednesday 24 June 2026

PRELIMINARY GROUPS

Women’s Competition
GER v NED 2-0 (23:20, 19:15)
NOR v GRE 0-2 (20:22, 22:27)
BRA v USA 2-0 (23:8, 27:9)
VIE v URU 1-2 (12:18, 15:14, SO 5:10)
ESP v CRO 2-0 (24:20, 23:22)
DEN v PHI 2-0 (22:14, 21:12)
COK v PUR 0-2 (12:15, 18:26)
BEN v ARG 0-2 (0:10, 0:10)*

Men’s Competition
GER v BRA 2-1 (22:23, 20:18, SO 9:8)
ESP v POR 2-1 (12:20, 21:20, SO 6:2)
ARG v ITA 2-1 (14:18, 21:14, SO 9:8)
IRI v USA 2-0 (25:20, 22:18)
CRO v FRA 2-0 (22:20, 29:23)
DEN v TUN 2-0 (28:20, 17:16)
OMA v AUS 2-0 (22:18, 24:22)
PUR v HUN 0-2 (24:32, 20:26)

*Game forfeited 2-0 to Argentina due to Benin withdrawing from the competition

All games from Croatia 2026 are being streamed live and free (no login required) on the IHF Competitions YouTube channel (geo-restrictions apply) click HERE for more information.