Croatia’s women have been working hard behind the scenes to come back to the top table of global beach handball and Croatia 2026 represents a chance to see just what is possible from the side, who will have the strength of the home fans behind them at Lake Jarun.

As hosts, Croatia automatically qualified for their home championship, and with it, extended their run of having not competitively qualified for an IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship since Oman 2012, when they finished fifth. Following Oman, they did not qualify for a world championship again until 2024, missing out on four editions (2014, 2016, 2018, 2022) in a row before qualifying for China 2024 as a substitute team, replacing African champions Tunisia.

On Pingtan Island they had mixed results – losing to Argentina and Spain (both 0-2) in the preliminary group stage, but defeating Asian champions Vietnam (2-0) to ensure a main round spot.

In that second round, they lost to Portugal (1-2) but defeated China (2-1) and Philippines (2-0) to take a quarter-final spot. In the last eight, they were easily defeated by Denmark (0-2) and then Spain (0-2) in the 5-8 placement round, but they ended on a high, defeating former champions Brazil (2-1) for seventh spot.

The following year, they recorded their lowest-ever ranking at the 2025 EHF EURO in 12 continental appearances, finishing 13th after losing to the Netherlands (0-2), Greece (1-2) and Sweden (0-2) in the preliminary group, before winning three in a row in the consolation round (Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkiye) and then beating Turkiye in the 13/14 placement match.

After the EURO, Croatia travelled to China again, this time for The World Games – the first time appearing at the event since 2009 when they won bronze.

In Hangzhou, they lost to hosts China (1-2) and then Argentina (0-2) before beating Portugal (2-0) in the preliminary group stage, to qualify through to the quarter-finals in second place where they lost to Denmark (0-2). They then lost to China again in the 5-8 placement round (0-2) before seeing off Asian champions Vietnam for seventh spot, 2-1 (14:20, 24:19, SO 9:6).

However, 2026 has already been positive with the Croatian women already making the podium at Lake Jarun, where the world championships will be held.

The host nation took bronze at Stage 1 of the 2026 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour last month. As part of the Jarun Cup beach handball festival, they saw off Portugal (2-1) and Serbia (2-1), but lost to Poland (0-2) in the preliminary round, before defeating neighbours Serbia for bronze (2-0).

As hosts, Croatia had the opportunity to choose their preliminary group and they decided on group B which features the well-known Spain, as well as Puerto Rico and debutants Cook Islands.

“Spain plays a very quick game with, a lot of running, so that's something we can manage to play against, because we are a bit steadier – that game can go both ways,” said captain Nika Vojnovic to ihf.info about the preliminary group draw.

“Then we have Cook Islands who are in their first competition so we don’t know too much about them, but it's always good to play against somebody that you don't know. We like it because we don't know them, so we have to do the things in the game, not before the game and that's good for our team. For Puerto Rico we will watch the videos of them and prepare for the match.”

Head coach Tihana Mikelic has been making final preparations with the squad in Novalja and then Nin, with a number of world championship debutants expected to be named in her squad for Croatia 2026.

“We are a really young team and there will be a lot of new players, but we will fight in every game until the last minute,” said the coach to ihf.info.

“You can say we are building a new story here with this new and young team. We can play against anyone, but the most important thing at the moment is the experience young players will get. We are building something from the ground and for the future, and my opinion is that this team has a very good and bright future.

“I expect that in five years, the women’s team will be at the same level as our men’s team. That’s what we are working on and that’s what we want to build at Croatia 2026.”

And captain Vojnovic is ready to welcome as many fans as possible to Jarun Lake.

“I would like to invite everyone to come to Jarun and support us, as well as the men’s team, because when your team is cheering for you, you get additional strength,” she said. “That’s something that really helps you get an important win.”

Coach: Tihana Mikelic
Key Players: Kristijana Lopac Skrinjar, Lena Dunderovic, Nika Vojnovic
Qualification information: Host nation
History in Tournament: 2004: 4th, 2006: 6th, 2008: 1st, 2010: 6th, 2012: 5th, 2014-2022: DNQ, 2024: 7th

Group at Croatia 2026: Group B: Spain, Croatia, Cook Islands, Puerto Rico