The draw for the preliminary round of the 11th IHF Men’s Youth (Under-19) World Championship took place on Tuesday, 8 April, in the sumptuous Abdeen Palace in Cairo, Egypt.

32 teams will line up at the start of the competition, the second edition in history with this number of teams in the line-up, after Croatia 2023. Currently, there are 17 European teams, five African teams, five Asian sides, three teams from the South and Central American Confederation and one from the North America and Caribbean Handball Confederation qualified. Another team will be decided shortly.

As per the IHF Rules and Regulations, Egypt, the hosting country, have the prerogative of choosing their group, as the 32 teams have been divided into four pots. The procedure of the draw will see teams from Pot 4 drawn first, followed by teams from Pots 3 and 2. Egypt, as the host nation, and a team from Pot 1, will choose their group, with the next teams from Pot 1 drawn next.

The draw was conducted by the Director of Competitions for the International Handball Federation, with the help of two Egypt stars, goalkeeper Karim Hendawy and line player Ibrahim Elmasry, with the former also being part of the Egypt youth national team at the 2007 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, when the African side ended up on the 5th place.

Reigning champions Spain will face some arduous tests on their way to retaining their title, after being drawn in Group C, alongside Serbia, the bronze medallists from the previous edition, Croatia, and Algeria.

Hosts Egypt decided to go into Group G, facing three Asian sides – Japan, Republic of Korea and Bahrain, as the runners-up from the previous edition, Denmark, are in Group H, with Tunisia, Czechia and the USA.

Another close group will be the one featuring Germany, Slovenia, Uruguay and the Faroe Islands, wile in Group F, powerhouses Norway and France will clash, with Argentina and a team which will be decided later on, completing the group.

The 11th IHF Men’s Youth World Championship will take place in four venues in Egypt between 6 and 17 August. The venues are: Cairo Stadium, Cairo Stadium Hall 2, Covered New Hall New Administrative Capital and New Administrative Capital Olympic City Hall.

The IHF President, Dr Hassan Moustafa, as well as the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Dr Ashraf Sobhy also attended the draw.

11th IHF Men’s Youth World Championship – draw results 
 

• Group A: Sweden, Portugal, Kuwait, Austria
• Group B: Hungary, Switzerland, Morocco, Kosovo
• Group C: Serbia, Spain, Croatia, Algeria
• Group D: Iceland, Brazil, Guinea, Saudi Arabia
• Group E: Germany, Slovenia, Uruguay, Faroe Islands
• Group F: Norway, France, Argentina, TBD
• Group G: Egypt, Japan, Republic of Korea, Bahrain
• Group H: Denmark, Tunisia, Czechia, United States of America