Norway are the fifth team qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2025 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, after Slovenia conceded a loss, 32:37, against France.

Switzerland went back to their winning ways, with a 35:30 win against Austria, as they improved their chances for a top-10 finish.

Main Round
Group I
Austria vs Swizerland 30:35 (13:17)

Two sides which had no chances to progress to the quarter-finals after their losses on Monday, in the main round’s opening day, Austria and Switzerland, could only play for a better finish, with Switzerland needing a win in order to make it to the Placement Matches 9/12 and secure a top-10 finish.

While Switzerland have also finished in single digits in their previous two appearances, Austria had never made the top-10, therefore the challenge was clear, yet Switzerland were the team with a better start, which saw them enjoy a 13:8 lead after 19 minutes.

A big part of that lead was due to the excellent attacking performance from Tiago Cuencas and Niclas Mierzwa, who combined for 10 goals in the first half, which eventually Switzerland won, 17:13.

The slow start was not replicated in the second half by Austria, which had a 5:1 run, inspired by Lukas Fritsch, to tie the score, 23:23. But from a potential surprise in the second half and a comeback, Austria collapsed and could not manage to stop Switzerland.

Cuencas and Mierzwa combined for 18 goals in the end of the match, with nine each, half of their team’s goals, as Switzerland used another 6:1 run to finally break free and open a 31:26 lead with nine minutes to go.

While Austria continued to concede easy turnovers, Switzerland just managed their performance better and eventually secured a 35:30 win, their first after two consecutive losses, to finish third in the group.

They will meet France in their next encounter, for the Placement Matches 9-12, while Austria face Slovenia in the Placement Matches 13-16.

Player of the Match: Tiago Cuencas (Switzerland)

Main Round Group III  
Slovenia vs France 32:37 (18:21)  

Slovenia did not have their usual spark at the start, looking short of energy in attack. Despite levelling at 4:4 after trailing 1:3, that brief spell around the eighth minute was the only real glimpse of their game early on.  

Moments later, with Wilson Schultz up to a 50% save rate for France, Slovenia were again three behind. A time-out brought a clear message from the Slovenian bench: stop playing for yourselves and get back to your usual style, but it took time to settle again.  

Matevž Mlakar's outstanding work between the posts, combined with calm, extended attacks, finally brought them level at 11:11 in the 18th minute, forcing France into a faster game. From there, it turned into a goal-for-goal battle. Yet in the closing stages of the first half, France capitalised on Slovenian mistakes to rebuild their +3 cushion before the break.  

Slovenia kept pouncing at the beginning of the second half, always threatening to close the gap, but France kept them on a short leash, never letting them find the spark for a real comeback. A mix of errors, rushed decisions, and the French defensive wall soon left Slovenia in deep trouble at 23:30. By the 40th minute, only Aljuš Anžič and Mai Marguč had scored more than twice, both sitting on eight goals.  

Still, Slovenia's spirit managed to shine through in the closing stages. They began to find ways around the French defence, narrowing the gap to 32:34 in just seven minutes. With the tension high, both sides pushed to score quickly, but speed brought its own problems. Turnovers proved costly for both, but for Slovenia, already chasing the game, they were decisive. Instead of setting up a thrilling finish after getting within two, they faltered, and within minutes the deficit had grown back to 32:37.  

With this win, their first in the main round, France secured a fight for the Placement Matches 9–12, a step forward after missing out at Croatia 2023. Slovenia, on the other hand, head to the Placement Matches 13–16, with a chance to slightly improve on their last two finishes, both in 15th place.  

Player of the Match: Mai Marguč (Slovenia)  

President's Cup Group I  
Kuwait vs Morocco 34:25 (16:12)  

From the first whistle, Kuwait imposed their rhythm and forced Morocco to chase. Well-structured attacks, focused on breakthroughs rather than long-range shots, successfully bypassed the Moroccan defence, giving Kuwait a 10:7 lead after just ten minutes.  

The gap soon widened, helped by another strong showing from Yousef Madwah. Even Abdulwahab Almutawa's red card did little to disrupt their momentum, as Kuwait maintained control. Morocco, meanwhile, could not find a way to score despite their efforts. Their attack hovered around 45% efficiency, compared to Kuwait's 60%, and they had to settle for a four-goal deficit at the break, a margin that could easily have been larger given the play on court.  

In the second half, Morocco managed to hold that deficit for around ten minutes, but by the middle of the half their energy seemed to fade. Their game revolved heavily around Adam Nouali, who netted nine times, but the defence began to give way more often and the goalkeepers were unable to make a real impact.  

Kuwait, on the other hand, marched steadily towards victory. When Player of the Match Hasan Boland made it 29:20, the outcome was all but sealed. That nine-goal cushion held firm until the final whistle, when Kuwait celebrated their first win at Egypt 2025.  

Kuwait now move on to the Placement Matches 25–28, while Morocco go to the Placement Matches 29–32. For Kuwait, returning to the World Championship for the first time since 2009, when they placed 19th, this is a significant achievement. For Morocco, it marks a more difficult step, having finished 18th at Croatia 2023 and with their lowest ranking to date being 20th back in 2009.  

Player of the Match: Hasan Boland (Kuwait)  

Group II  
Algeria vs Guinea 28:22 (14:10)  

In an all-African contest, Algeria claimed their first victory of Egypt 2025, securing third place in Group II and a spot in the Placement Matches 25–28. Tournament debutants Guinea, still searching for their first win after five straight defeats, will conclude their campaign in the Placement Matches 29–32.  

Player of the Match Manis Makboul was a standout in Algeria’s attack, scoring seven goals, while goalkeeper Zine Eddine Djemadi delivered a strong performance between the posts, making 16 saves. Guinea managed five goals from fast breaks, but their 16 turnovers proved costly and hindered their momentum.  

Algeria came out firing, inspired by Makboul’s early strikes, and raced to a 3:0 lead before Pokpa Loua finally opened Guinea’s account almost seven minutes into the match. With Djemadi making key stops, Algeria maintained control, building a 10:4 advantage after 20 minutes. Guinea narrowed the gap slightly before the break, but still trailed 14:10.  

After half-time, a run of goals from Selim Berrou reasserted Algeria’s dominance, stretching the lead to 20:13 just seven minutes into the second period and then to 23:14 by the 46th minute. The outcome was virtually sealed, allowing Algeria to manage the closing stages comfortably and celebrate a long-awaited, well-deserved win.  

Player of the Match: Manis Makboul (Algeria)