The draw for the 19th edition of the IHF Men's Club World Championship took place on Wednesday at the IHF Head Office in Basel, confirming the Preliminary Qualification pairings and Group Phase line-up for the revamped 10-team competition, which returns to Egypt's New Administrative Capital from 24 September to 1 October 2026.

The two Preliminary Qualification matches, which will determine the final two places in the Group Phase, were drawn as follows:

Preliminary Qualification Match 1: Los Angeles Handball Club (USA) vs Zamalek SC (EGY)
Preliminary Qualification Match 2: Sydney Uni (AUS) vs Veszprém HC (HUN)

The pairings pit both seeded teams against a wild card side. Los Angeles Handball Club, debutants representing North America and the Caribbean, face an Egyptian test against Zamalek SC, who will be looking to use home advantage to reach the Group Phase for what would be an eighth appearance in the competition's history.

Meanwhile, competition-record participants Sydney Uni - appearing for the 13th time in the competition - take on two-time finalists Veszprém HC, the 2024 champions and 2025 runners-up. Both losing sides will play twice for the 9th and 10th place.

With the six directly seeded teams and two Preliminary Qualification places drawn as a free draw, the Group Phase took shape, providing some interesting storylines

Reigning champions and record six-time winners FC Barcelona, appearing for a 12th time in the competition's history, headline Group A. They will face Montada, who become the first Moroccan club to feature in the competition since KAC Marrakech's debut in 1997, and Brazil's E.C. Pinheiros, representing South and Central America, before being joined by the winner of Los Angeles Handball Club's Preliminary Qualification tie against Zamalek SC.

Group B brings together hosts Al Ahly, playing on home soil for a third consecutive edition and chasing a repeat of their bronze medal finish from two editions ago, alongside European representatives Füchse Berlin - back in the competition for the first time since 2023 and bolstered by IHF Male World Player of the Year Mathias Gidsel - and Asian representatives Burgan SC, newcomers to the competition after winning their continental qualification tournament. The group will be completed by the winner of the Sydney Uni vs Veszprém HC Preliminary Qualification tie.

2026 IHF Men's Club World Championship - draw results - group phase

Group A: FC Barcelona (ESP), Montada (MAR), E.C. Pinheiros (BRA), PQ Winner 1
Group B: Füchse Berlin (GER), Al Ahly (EGY), Burgan SC (KUW), PQ Winner 2

The 19th IHF Men's Club World Championship will be staged for the third consecutive time in the New Administrative Capital, Egypt, running from 24 September to 1 October 2026.