In front of an estimated 3,200 home fans, Brazil’s men and women have won the 2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour: Finals – repeating their success from the grand finale of the world event last year.

The result for Brazil women continues their historic streak – the South American side winning their third successive finals title after that 2024 title and winning on their debut, in 2023.

The final day of 2025 finals action in João Pessoa, Brazil saw four games played – two medal matches each in the men’s and women’s competition.

Are Brazil’s women unbeatable on the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour?

The classic South American derby match between Brazil and Argentina saw the host nation side and double IHF Beach Handball Global Tour: Finals winners take on The World Games champions and current world champion silver medallists Argentina and it did not disappoint.

Six points from Brazil’s Beatriz Cruz put her side well in control after four minutes (10:2) but Argentina, led by Gisella Bonomi gradually clawed their way back. This was swiftly ended when Carolina Militao Pires put the game out of reach in the last minute (17:12) despite late Bonomi strikes.

The second set was more dominant, the home side running up a double-digit lead halfway through (14:4, 16:6) as the experienced Patricia Scheppa scored a couple in the final two minutes to ensure the gap stayed comfortable and her side could confirm that trio of golds. Scheppa ended as top-scorer in the game, with 13 points.

“We played with a lot of heart today. Every player gave everything on the court, and that made the difference. We trusted each other and fought until the end,” said Scheppa after the final, to ihf.info.

“The home crowd were incredible - the energy from the fans gave us so much motivation. Playing in front of our people, hearing them cheer every point, it makes everything even more special. It’s always an honour to represent Brazil, especially with our fans behind us. Their passion and energy are unmatched.”

Argentina will be sick of their rivals on the Global Tour having lost all six meetings stretching back to 2023 across three different stages.

The result for Brazil ensures they keep their perfect record on the Global Tour. Across five stages they have played 25 times and won all 25, conceding just five sets in the process.

In the bronze medal match, Poland pulled off an unexpected victory over Spain, to win 2-0 (16:14, 21:16) – overturning their preliminary group and final loss in Spain on stage 2.

Spain had led clearly in the closing stages of the first set (12:8, 7th minute) but a double each from Alicija Mrozek and Malgorzata Rawicz-Grotowska put Poland ahead (16:12) in the last minute to secure the opening set victory.

The second set also saw Spain throw away an early lead, Poland outscoring their opponents 13:6 in the last six minutes to earn bronze.

Scheppa and Bonomi ended as overall top-scorers in Brazil, both registering 48 points each.

Brazil men confirm host-nation double delight

A controlled, effective performance from Brazil’s men ensured they would stand on top of the podium on home sand – alongside their women – as they dispatched Spain 2-0 (24:22, 14:11) in a final they were never really in trouble in after a shaky first five minutes.

Leading 10:4 with five minutes on the clock, Spain had space but the key attacking trio of Rai Goncalves, Renan Pinheiro Carvalho and Bruno Carlos de Oiiveira, backed up by a strong defence led by goalkeeper Cristiano Seben Rossa ensured that the South Americans came back to take it by two (24:22), Alberto Castro Duarte seeing his late free throw saved by Rossa.

The second set saw a more defensive display from both sides, Brazil taking a four-point (12:8) lead going into the last four minutes – enough to seal gold once again. Carvalho ended the game as top-scorer, recording 16 points for Brazil.

 

The men’s bronze medal match featured the only shoot-out on the final day, Argentina defeating world champions Croatia 2-1 (24:8, 14:17, SO 7:6) after two completely opposite sets. The first saw Croatia fail to score for almost seven minutes (3rd-10th minute), Argentina going from 4:4 to 22:4 in an incredible defensive and offensive period.

But Croatia should never be written off and the second set was won after the European side went into the last two minutes with a four-point cushion (16:12).

After both sides missed two shots each in the first round of five shots it went to sudden death. Valentino Valentakovic was up first for Croatia, but his shot was saved by Ramiro Lucas Fernandez in the Argentina goal, leaving Ezequiel Rozitchner to score the single point and claim bronze.

Goncalves ended up as the overall tournament scorer with 50 points, followed by Argentina’s Jorge Nahuel Perez Baptista on 47.

2025 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour – Stage 3: Finals
Date: 7 to 9 November
Location: João Pessoa, Brazil
Men's teams: Argentina (ARG), Brazil (BRA), Croatia (CRO), Spain (ESP)
Women's teams: Argentina (ARG), Brazil (BRA), Poland (POL), Spain (ESP)

Final Rankings

Men’s competition
1 Brazil
2 Spain
3 Argentina
3 Croatia

Women’s competition
1 Brazil
2 Argentina
3 Poland
4 Spain

Match results

Men’s competition

Preliminary Group
CRO vs ARG 0-2 (12:13, 14:20)
BRA vs ESP 1-2 (26:14, 19:22, SO 6:7)
ESP vs ARG 2-0 (22:14, 24:20)
CRO vs BRA 0-2 (8:24, 6:10)
ESP vs CRO 1-2 (21:18, 18:24, SO 8:9)
ARG vs BRA 1-2 (16:22, 15:14, SO 10:12)
3/4 Placement/Bronze-Medal Match: ARG vs CRO 2-1 (24:8, 14:17, SO 7:6)
Final: ESP vs BRA 0-2 (22:24, 11:14)

Women’s competition

Preliminary Group
ARG vs ESP 2-0 (15:10, 25:24)
BRA vs POL 2-0 (14:8, 22:12)
POL vs ARG 2-1 (10:15, 17:10, SO 8:2)
BRA vs ESP 2-1 (24:28, 22:12, SO 12:10)
POL vs ESP 0-2 (10:24, 8:24)
ARG vs BRA 1-2 (17:8, 19:23, SO 6:7)
3/4 Placement/Bronze-Medal Match: ESP vs POL 0-2 (14:16, 16:21)
Final: BRA vs ARG 2-0 (17:16, 22:16)

About the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour

The IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was launched at the 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships in Greece and debuted in Gdansk, Poland, with Croatia winning the men’s tournament and Spain taking the top spot in the women’s tournament.

The following year, in 2023, the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour visited Brazil, Tunisia and Poland before the Finals Stage was held in Qatar with Qatar’s men and Brazil’s women taking the overall titles.

The 2024 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour was held in Brazil, Spain and finals, again in Qatar, where Brazil won both the men’s and women’s events.

2025 represents the fourth edition of the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour. Stage 1 took place in Hammamet, Tunisia, and was won by Spain’s women and Croatia’s men in June. Stage 2 was played in Laredo, Spain in July, with the host nation winning both competitions. And the final stage – Stage 3 – concluded the 2025 tour in João Pessoa, Brazil.

In a senior IHF Beach Handball World Championship or The World Games year, the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour Team consists of three stages, with non-event years reverting back to four stages. This year, The World Games took place in August, in the People’s Republic of China.

Photo credit: Bruno Ruas / Ruasmidia / CBHB