The second day of competition features 28 games – 14 men’s and 14 women’s – spread over a morning and late afternoon/evening session as the preliminary group stage comes to a conclusion in Hammamet, Tunisia.

With all teams playing twice, it is sure to be an action-packed day.

Three teams from each preliminary group will progress to the main round, and following a team and schedule change on the eve of the world championships all three remaining men’s teams in group A – Spain, Oman and Puerto Rico – and all three in women’s group A – Brazil, France and Thailand – are  already through ahead of the final preliminary group day of action, with points carried through to the main round at stake.

Having had their games cancelled on the opening day, Oman’s men and Brazil’s women sides start their Tunisia 2025 campaigns.

All games will be streamed live via the IHF YouTube Competitions channel.

South American neighbours go for maximum points in men’s competition

The final group game for Argentina and Brazil in Group D is the classic continental, neighbourly rivalry. The two have traded positions as leaders of beach handball in the continent for many years at both youth and senior level as well as in both genders, with Argentina recently counting a silver medal at the 2024 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship as one of their greatest achievements on the sand, second only to their 2018 Youth Olympic Games women’s gold.

The men’s youth team defeated Brazil 2-1 (10:18, 18:16, SO 11:10) in the SCAHC continental championship last year, with Juan Bautista Dirr impressing for Argentina, as he did in their opening victory against Uruguay on Tuesday. Argentina will also face 2026 Youth Olympic Games hosts Senegal in their second match of the day, while Brazil conclude the group with a match against Uruguay, who will face Senegal in their opener.

In group B Croatia have the chance of revenge when they face Germany – the team who defeated them 2-0 in a high-scoring bronze medal game (32:26, 27:20) at the YAC 16 EURO last year, while EURO champions Hungary take on Kenya in the morning and then face Germany in the late afternoon session, hoping to add to their takedown of Croatia on the opening day. Croatia and Kenya will meet in the evening session.

“It's always good to fight against the very, very complex team at the first so we are very, very happy,” said Hungary’s Peter Nemeth about their shoot-out win against the Croatians. “This game was very intense. We already know that Croatia is a top team. They are the title defenders, so we came with energy and with power, but we were confident and that was the key.”

And does he or his team feel like teams are working extra hard to beat the EURO champions?

“I don't think so, everyone here in Tunisia is equal,” he said. “It's a new competition, new players, new continents and you have to fight for your position.”

The Mexico and Cook Islands group C clash is likely to hand one of the teams their first-ever taste of world championship action – and likely with it, progression through to the main round. The group opens with Thailand taking on Tunisia, both teams having won their opening games on day one.

"We're really happy to start with a win, it was down to teamwork, combination work and training,” said Thailand’s Saknarin Wongsaita, who scored eight from eight against Cook Islands, to ihf.info. "We want to go far; to the semi-final or final.”

His coach, Surakhom Kannarong, echoed the thoughts of his player. “Today I am happy,” he said. “But we will play it match-by-match and aim for the quarter-finals.”

Which women’s world championship debutants will move into main round?

Kenya in group B, Mexico, Senegal and Tunisia in group C and Bulgaria in group D are all making their IHF Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship debuts in Tunisia and all still in with a chance of making it through to the next stage.

While it is not impossible for any of them to qualify through, Kenya face EURO champions Netherlands and Asian champions in their two final games, while Bulgaria face title-holders Spain and Croatia in their pair of games. Only one debutant is guaranteed a place and that will be the winners of Senegal and Mexico who play each other in their final group game at 1750.

Senegal’s earlier continental clash against Tunisia promises to be one to watch, with the west African side taking Hungary all the way to the last seconds of their second set in their opening game. Spain face Bulgaria in a re-match of their the 5-8 placement round YAC 16 EURO match, which they won 2-1 (20:8, 20:21, SO 7:2).

Wednesday 18 June – Schedule
(All times local)

Men’s Competition
1020 CRO vs GER, KEN vs HUN, SEN vs ARG, URU vs BRA
1200 MEX vs THA, COK vs TUN, OMA vs ESP, (PUR vs IRI)*
1650 ARG vs BRA, CRO vs KEN, HUN vs GER, URU vs SEN
1830 OMA vs PUR, MEX vs COK, TUN vs THA, (IRI vs ESP)*

Women’s Competition
0930 KEN vs NED, BUL vs CRO, ESP vs URU, CHN vs GER
1110 MEX vs HUN, SEN vs TUN, THA vs BRA, (TAN vs FRA)*
1600 CHN vs KEN, NED vs GER, CRO vs URU, ESP vs BUL
1740 MEX vs SEN, TUN vs HUN, FRA vs BRA, (THA vs TAN)*

*Following a team and schedule change on the eve of the world championships these games have been awarded as default 2-0 (10:0, 10:0) wins to Puerto Rico, Spain, France and Thailand respectively.