Brazil overcome scary first half to beat USA and head to main round

Brazil dominated the second half against the United States of America, to clinch a main round spot, with a 31:24 win, after the American side was up two goals by half-time, 12:10.

GROUP E
Brazil vs United States of America 31:24 (10:12)

There was no question about the favourite of the match between Brazil and the United States of America, a decider for the third main round spot in Group F, after Portugal and Norway have previously secured safe passage after the second round in the group.

In the last four matches, the USA lost against Brazil by a combined margin of 72 goals, all the four losses coming in double digits, including a 27:40 loss in the semi-finals of the PanAmerican Games in 2023. But this was different.

Brazil had shocked Norway in the opener and kept Portugal in check for 45 minutes in the second one, while the USA conceded two heavy losses, having a -25 goal difference after two matches. But handball works in mysterious ways and this is why the mutual encounter between Brazil and the USA was not a walk in the park for the South American champions.

In fact, Brazil were left reeling after an underwhelming first half, where they scored only 10 goals, none of them coming from their backs, who had an disappointing overall performance. As four of their first five goals came via penalties converted by Rudolf Hackbarth, the South American side still led after 15 minutes, 6:5.

But from that moment on, in the grand scheme of things, Brazil started dozing off. By the 20th minute, all of Brazil’s goals were scored by wings. And at the break, USA had a two-goal lead, 12:10, with the South American side in a whole world of trouble, were Norway were to take points against Portugal.

With a big advantage and experience in depth, Brazil bounced back immediately in the second half, but USA still had something in the tank, as right back Jonas Stromberg scored six goals. Yet when Brazil really pushed, it was game over.

A 6:1 run spurred by an excellent defence, decided the match, as Brazil opened a five-goal lead, 24:19, which grew to double digits, 30:20, after the USA’s failed attempt to use a seven-on-six attack, which resulted in open-goals shots converted by Brazil’s players.

Right wing Rudolph Hackbarth scored eight goals, while goalkeeper Rangel da Rosa had another fantastic outing, with 17 saves and a 50% saving efficiency, improving his overall tally at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship to 41 saves, with Brazil eventually cruising to a 31:24 win, after scoring 21 goals in the second half.

Brazil secured their second win in three matches at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship and will start their main round group with two points, after beating Norway, but will need to erase the mistakes in the match which saw them dominated in the second half against Portugal and the first against the USA.

The American side are now leaving Norway and heading to Porec, whey they play in the President’s Cup, aiming to secure their maiden win at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025.

hummel Player of the Match: Aboubakar Fofana (United States of America)