Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

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Team Info

The 10th IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championship in Croatia marks the second appearance for Saudi Arabia. They celebrated their premiere at North Macedonia 2019. 

Four years ago, the youth national team at that time faced an almost all-European group with the current hosts Croatia, Norway, Spain, and Slovenia. The only other non-European team was Chile. In their encounter, Saudi Arabia recorded their first win ever at the IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championship in the opening match of their campaign. This victory remained their only one, but eventually secured them the 20th place. 

On their way to their second IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championship, the Asian side played a superb Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship in Bahrain. They won their group with five convincing victories in a row but were stopped by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the semi-finals. This match included almost everything a handball heart could wish for. The clash went into double extra time and although right back Sajjad Alfardan equalised only one minute before the final buzzer, it was the Islamic Republic of Iran who went through to the final with their final goal with 18 seconds left on the clock.

The team recovered quickly from that intense match and faced Japan in the bronze medal match. After 40 minutes, Saudi Arabia were trailing by five but mounted a huge comeback and turned the tide. Once more Sajjad Alfardan stepped up and this time he scored the decisive goal to win the match for his team. It was the first bronze medal ever for Saudi Arabia at an Asian Men’s Youth World Championship.

At Croatia 2023, they will face two powerhouses: The current IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championship runners-up Germany and the 2022 South and Central American Men’s Youth Handball Championship winners Argentina. Group G is completed by the newcomers from the United States of America and there could be a chance of winning the second match ever at an IHF Men’s Youth (U19) World Championship.

Key players: Sajjad Alfardan (right back), Hussain Furaij (right wing), Ahmed Al Saed (right back)

Qualification for Croatia 2023: 2022 Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship – 3rd

History in tournament: 2019: 20th 

Group at Croatia 2023: Group G (Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, United States of America)