The 2026 IHF Women's Youth World Championship will start on Wednesday, 29 July, in four Romanian cities - Craiova, Mioveni, Pitești and Râmnicu Vâlcea. It will be the third edition of the tournament with 32 teams, which will represent six continental confederations this time.

The sides will be split into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two sides progressing to the main round. Reigning champions Spain will start in Group C, with a match against Guinea, while home team Romania will face Uruguay in their opening game in Group F.

Fiji and Mexico will make their debut at the IHF Women's Youth World Championship, with the former becoming the first Pacific island nation to take part at the tournament.

Group A

11:45 EEST — Croatia v Egypt
14:00 EEST — France v Fiji

Group B

16:15 EEST — Denmark v Republic of Korea
18:30 EEST — Czechia v Mexico

Group C

11:45 EEST — Spain v Guinea
14:00 EEST — Germany v Uzbekistan

Group D

16:15 EEST — Montenegro v Netherlands
18:30 EEST — Argentina v Portugal

Group E

11:45 EEST — Hungary v Tunisia
14:00 EEST — Sweden v Canada

Group F

16:15 EEST — People's Republic of China v Kazakhstan
18:30 EEST — Romania v Uruguay

Group G

11:45 EET — Japan v Angola
14:00 EET — Slovakia v Brazil

Group H

16:15 EET — Switzerland v Slovenia
18:30 EET — Serbia v Algeria

11:45 EET Croatia vs Egypt

Croatia are entering their seventh straight (and overall) IHF Women's Youth World Championship, with the seventh position two years ago at China 2024 being their best result at this level.

However, now the Balkan side are aiming for more. Last year, this generation of Croatian players won silver at the W17 EHF EURO 2025, and with some big talents such as back court players Antea Jerković and Anamarija Barić in the squad, they hope to go far at Romania 2026.

In turn, Egypt will play at the IHF Women's Youth World Championship for the fifth time. Their best result is also the seventh place, taken at North Macedonia 2022, while two years later, the African team dropped to the 21st position.

Now Egypt are looking to bounce back, and for the team who won their sixth African Women's Youth Handball Championship title in 2025, the opening match against Croatia may prove crucial in the group.

16:15 EET Denmark vs Republic of Korea

Among the 32 participants of the tournament, Denmark are the most decorated team, reaching the podium seven times in the past and claiming two titles, in 2006 and 2012. At both North Macedonia 2022 and China 2024, the European side won silver, and now they start the competition with high hopes again.

This generation of Danish players failed to win a medal at the W17 EHF EURO 2025, where they finished sixth. However, they are determined to do better at Romania 2026, and their primary task is to progress from Group B, where the Nordic side face Czechia, the Republic of Korea and Mexico.

The Koreans, who are their first opponents, won the tournament as recently as in 2022, but two years later, they failed to reach the main round and finished only 19th. Last year, Korea won bronze at the 2025 Asian Women's Youth Handball Championship, and now they hope to do well at the world level.

16:15 EET Montenegro vs Netherlands

This Group D match is one of just two 100% European clashes on the opening day of the competition, alongside Switzerland vs Slovenia in Group H. Last year, both rivals played at W17 EHF EURO 2025, but their paths did not cross – and while Montenegro won bronze, Netherlands finished just 13th.

Montenegro's best result at the IHF Women's Youth World Championship dates back to 2014, when they finished fourth. At China 2024, the Balkan side ranked 12th, but now they rely on a talented generation, including the W17 EHF EURO 2025 MVP Martina Knežević, who also featured at the 2026 IHF Women's Junior World Championship this summer.

While Montenegro enter their sixth Youth World Championship, Netherlands will perform at this level for the eighth time, and they won bronze in 2010. At China 2024, the Dutch team ranked 16th, so now their goal is to make a step forward.

14:00 EET Slovakia vs Brazil

Slovakia are making their return to the IHF Women's Youth World Championship following a four-year break, after they had their lowest-ever ranking at North Macedonia 2022, finishing just 26th.

Now the team, who will play their fifth tournament at this level, is expected to do much better, as this generation of Slovak players won the W17 EHF EURO 2025. The seventh position at Slovakia 2008 is still the team's best result at the IHF Women's Youth World Championship, but now they have the potential to rank higher.

However, Slovakia will miss two key players from the squad which won the European championship - Mária Bartková and Barbara Gogolová - with Bartková being their top scorer in the competition.

In their opening match at Romania 2026, Slovakia will face Brazil, who became runners-up at the 2025 South and Central American Women's Youth Handball Championship. At the IHF Women's Youth World Championship, the seventh place at North Macedonia 2014 is still their best-ever ranking. Drawn into a group with four teams from four continents alongside Slovakia, Japan and Angola, now the South Americans hope to at least reach the main round.