After making their global beach handball debut at the 2022 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship in Greece, Puerto Rico returned with both a men’s and women’s team for the 2024 IHF Beach Handball World Championships, held in China last year.

Now, in 2025, the youth can get involved too, as the men’s U17 team – nominated by their continental federation – become the first side from the country to appear at an IHF Youth Beach Handball World Championship.

Both senior men’s teams finished 16th and last at their two appearances so far, while the women’s side fared slightly better, finishing 15th at China 2024, thanks to a 15/16 placement victory against the USA.

Part of the 2024 Puerto Rican coaching delegation for both teams was Jonathan Robles and he has also been named for Tunisia 2025 as assistant coach to what you could call a legendary coaching figure in the Caribbean island nation – Camilo Estevez.

The 55-year-old guided the women’s senior indoor (7-a-side) team to their first-ever IHF Women’s World Championship – Denmark 2015, where they finished in a respectable 20th spot after a win against Kazakhstan. Six years later Estevez again qualified the women’s team, to Spain 2021, where wins over Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan again saw them finish about Montenegro, Angola and Argentina, again in 20th.

Estevez has also led Puerto to 2017 and 2021 North America and the Caribbean Championship titles.

At Tunisia 2025, Estevez and his side start their preliminary group campaign against the strong Spanish side, before facing Asian champions Islamic Republic of Iran and the fourth-placed Asian side Oman.

Spain coach Sebastian Hernandez told ihf.info that Puerto Rico were “…a bit of an unknown,” but wanted to emphasise that “…their progress in recent years makes them a tricky opponent. They play with daring and confidence, and they are capable of beating any team on the court.”

To prepare for Tunisia 2025, the national team have been training with Guerrilleros Balonmano Río Grande club in the north-east of the island. Players have been selected from three clubs – Rio Grande, Guaynabo Handball Club and Palmer, with one nominated goalkeeper Ruben Esquilin named.

Coach: Camilo Estevez
Qualification information: NACHC Nomination
History in tournament: 2017-2022: DNQ
Group at Tunisia 2025: Group A – Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), Spain (ESP), Oman (OMA), Puerto Rico (PUR)