The third edition of the IHF Men’s and Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship throws-off in Hammamet, Tunisia on Tuesday (17 June), running through until Sunday (22 June).

Aside from becoming crowned global champions, there is an added incentive with teams appearing at Tunisia 2025 also fulfilling an important qualification criteria for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

A total of 14 games – seven in each competition – will be played on the first day across four sessions, starting at 1500hrs (local time). All games will be streamed live via the IHF YouTube Competitions channel.

World vs European champions highlight of men’s opening day

The opening day will be historic for debutants Senegal, Puerto Rico, Hungary, Kenya, Mexico, Tunisia and especially Cook Islands, who are appearing at their first-ever IHF World Championship in either indoor or beach in either gender.

Cook Islands will face the Asian silver medallists Thailand in their evening game after travelling 18,000km to be in North Africa. The same session will see a repeat of the SCAHC Championship from last year, with Argentina taking on Uruguay – in December, Argentina won clearly 2-0 (16:10, 17:12). Mexico, appearing in their first-ever IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship in either youth or senior level will take on hosts Tunisia, while 2026 Youth Olympic Games hosts Senegal will face Brazil.

The afternoon session sees YAC 16 EURO 2024 silver medallists Spain take on Puerto Rico and Germany face Kenya, but the big highlight will be the European champions Hungary and the title-holders Croatia, who were qualified late on due to Tanzania not appearing.

Asian champions take on European champions in blockbuster women’s opener

The big highlight in the opening session of day one in the women’s competition is the continental gold medal winners clash between China and Netherlands at 1500hrs (local time).

The Dutch have taken two, consecutive silver medals at the 2017 and 2022 IHF Women’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship and will be hoping that 2025 can see them rise one step higher on the podium. Their gold medal last year at the YAC 16 EURO impressed, but they will face a China side who completely dominated their continent for the second event running, winning the Asian title in Thailand last October.

At the same time, the continental runners-up will face each other, with France taking on Thailand, the early session wrapped up with Germany taking on Kenya.

Title-holders Spain throw-off their campaign with an all-European clash against Croatia in the later session, which is completed by three inter-continental match-ups, including Uruguay taking on Bulgaria, Hungary facing Senegal and Tunisia playing Mexico.

Tunisian Handball Federation welcome the future to Hammamet

Ahead of the opening day of games, the technical meeting featuring all 30 competing teams was held at the team hotel, with all teams successfully submitting their final championship squads.

The teams were warmly embraced upon their arrival by Karim Helali, President of the Tunisian Handball Federation. 

“On behalf of all my colleagues, all my handball family, I want to say welcome to Tunisia,” said Helali.

“I want to send all my gratitude to the IHF and especially IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa for giving us the opportunity to organise this competition, nearly 20 years after organising the 2009 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, which was also held in Hammamet.

“Tunisia is the country of handball, it a second sport, but in many cities, it is the first sport. Hammamet is the city of handball, and you will really enjoy it. Good luck to every team.”

After the formalities of the competition were explained, Tarik Ben Ali, National Technical Director, Tunisian Handball Federation added; “we are very proud to host this world championship, especially one involving young people. This is very important for us – the new generation of players.”

Tuesday 17 June – Schedule
(All times local)

Men’s Competition
1550    ESP vs PUR, HUN vs CRO, GER vs KEN
1830    BRA vs SEN, TUN vs MEX, ARG vs URU, THA vs COK

Women’s Competition
1500    FRA vs THA, NED vs CHN, GER vs KEN
1740    URU vs BUL, TUN vs MEX, CRO vs ESP, HUN vs SEN