The 11th Asian Men's Youth Handball Championship will take place from 20 to 31 August 2026 in Amman, Jordan, marking the fifth time the Jordanian capital hosts the competition and the second consecutive edition to be staged there.

Serving as the qualification tournament for the 12th IHF Men's Youth World Championship, the event will see the top four teams secure direct berths at the global flagship competition.

A total of 10 teams will compete in Amman, divided into two preliminary round groups of five. The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, keeping their hopes of continental glory - and qualification for the IHF Men's Youth World Championshi - alive.

Reigning champions Japan will not take part in the competition, while the most decorated team in history – the Republic of Korea – silver medallists in the previous edition, were drawn in Group A.

Group A looks to be a well-balanced one, as Korea, as well as Bahrain, champions in 2016 and 2018, will be favoured, while hosts Jordan look to create some issues and make it to the quarter-finals. India and Uzbekistan will be the outsiders and try to create some issues for the favourites.

Champions in 2010 and 2012, Qatar will have a tough mission in Group B, where they face Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which faced off in the bronze-medal match two years ago, when Kuwait secured their second medal in the competition.

Perennial contenders Islamic Republic of Iran, which have four medals and clinched the silver in 2022, and Syria complete the group, another well-balanced affair, which is earmarked to create close matches.

The preliminary round will take place between 20 and 26 August, in a round-robin format in the Princess Sumaya Hall in Amman. The top four teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals, which are set to be played on 28 August.

The winner of each quarter-final will advance to the semi-finals, also securing their place to the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship.

The semi-finals are scheduled for 29 August, while the final and the bronze-medal match take place on 31 August.

11th Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship – preliminary round

Group A: Republic of Korea, Bahrain, Jordan, India, Uzbekistan
Group B: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Qatar, Syria