Norway will be the hosts of the IHF Women’s World Championship for the third time in history and they will be aiming to keep the medal streak going in this position, after sealing the bronze in 1993 and the title in 1999, when they also co-hosted the world handball flagship competition with Denmark.

The Scandinavian side will have a target on their backs as the reigning champions, but the most decorated team in history at the IHF Women’s World Championship still have plenty to offer, with an excellent generation, which is trying to seal back-to-back titles for the first time in their history and for the first time in the competition since 2009, when Russia secured back-to-back-to-back titles.

At Spain 2021, Norway signed off with an outstanding performance, the first time in history when they clinched the title undefeated, securing eight wins and a draw to win their fourth title in history.

No team has won more matches (120) or scored more goals (4517) than Norway, as the Scandinavian side will feature for the 22nd time in 26 editions of the competition, with Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023 being their 19th consecutive edition.

Norway’s consistency has been nothing short of amazing over their participations at the IHF Women’s World Championship, as the European powerhouse has always finished in the top-10 of the final standings, with their worst performance being the ninth place at Russia 2005.

Since then, Norway have always made the quarter-finals and have sealed a semi-finals berth in seven of the eight editions, securing a medal in six editions. Now, on their home court, they will aim to secure the fifth world title, while players like Camilla Herrem and Stine Bredal Oftedal can become the only ones with four world titles in their career.

Norway will rely once again on their excellent core, with the MVP of the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship, Kari Brattset Dale, making her comeback after giving birth, while stalwarts like Katrine Lunde and Nora Mørk, but also the top scorer of the EHF EURO 2022, Henny Reistad, adding to an excellent core of players.

In Group C, which will take place in Stavanger, Norway look like clear favourites, facing the Republic of Korea, Greenland and Austria, but the main issue will be crossing paths with France in an eventual main round, which could set up fireworks in the competition.

Key players: Henny Reistad (left back), Kari Brattset Dale (line player), Nora Mørk (right back), Stine Bredal Oftedal (centre back), Katrine Lunde (goalkeeper)

Qualification for DEN/NOR/SWE 2023: Co-hosts

History in tournament: 1971: 7th, 1973: 8th, 1975: 8th, 1982: 7th, 1986: 3rd, 1990: 6th, 1993: 3rd, 1995: 4th, 1997: 2nd, 1999: Winners, 2001: 2nd, 2003: 6th, 2005: 9th, 2007: 2nd, 2009: 3rd, 2011: Winners, 2013: 5th, 2015: Winners, 2017: 2nd, 2019: 4th, 2021: Winners

Group at DEN/NOR/SWE 2023: Group C (Norway, Republic of Korea, Greenland, Austria)