The 2026 IHF Men’s Club World Championship will feature a revamped format, as the 19th edition of the premium world club handball competition moves to 10 participating teams. The competition will be staged in the New Administrative Capital, Egypt, marking the third consecutive edition in Egypt, and will take place from 24 September to 1 October 2026.

The hosts, reigning champions, continental representatives and wild cards all form part of a field designed to reflect the competition’s global identity. The two wild cards are set to include the 2024 winners, Veszprém KC, and Zamalek SC from Egypt, adding even more weight to an already high-profile line-up.

FC Barcelona will enter this edition as reigning champions and will feature for the 12th time in the event’s history. The Spanish powerhouse have won six titles, the most in the competition’s history, three more than SC Magdeburg.

Barcelona will be joined by another European side, Füchse Berlin. As Barcelona have won the Machineseeker EHF Champions League, the European place has been passed on to the finalist of Europe’s top club competition.

Füchse Berlin, who have always finished in the top two and won the competition in 2015 and 2016, are returning for the first time since 2023. The Berlin side will also rely on the the IHF Male World Player of the Year, Mathias Gidsel, who returns to the IHF Men’s Club World Championship.

The third European side in the 10-team field is Veszprém HC. The Hungarian team finished second in 2015, won the title in 2024, and again took silver in 2025, after losing a dramatic overtime final to Barcelona.

Xavi Pascual’s side received a wild card to participate in the competition and will aim to reach the final once more. Their squad also includes goalkeeper Emil Nielsen and line player Lukas Jørgensen, both world champions with Denmark in 2023 and 2025.

Africa will also be represented by three teams, matching Europe for the highest number of participants.

After finishing fourth, fifth, third and fourth in the previous four editions, Al-Ahly return with medal ambitions once again. The Egyptian side will contest the competition for the fifth consecutive time and the seventh time overall, this time as hosts. Zamalek SC, the second wild card, will also feature for the seventh time in the competition.

The third African team is Moroccan side Montada, who will make their debut in the competition. They become the first Moroccan club to take part since the inaugural edition in 1997, when KAC Marrakech finished eighth.

Another debutant is Asian representative Burgan SC, who secured a dramatic victory in the 2026 AHF Asian Men’s Club League Handball Championship against Saudi side Khaleej Club.

Burgan will be the fourth Kuwaiti club to compete in the event, after Al-Salmiya SC, Al-Qadsiya and Al-Kuwait SC.

E.C. Pinheiros will represent South and Central America after winning the 2026 South and Central American Men’s Club Handball Championship against fellow Brazilian side Nacional. Pinheiros have played in the competition three times so far, with a best finish of fourth place in 2021.

Australian side Sydney Uni will make their 13th appearance, the most of any team in the field, while the North American and Caribbean place will be decided through qualification. The final between Los Angeles Handball Club and New York Athletic Club is scheduled for Friday evening in Mexico, with the winner earning the final ticket to Egypt for the 2026 IHF Men’s Club World Championship.

The following 10 club teams are planned to participate in the 2026 IHF Men’s Club World Championship:

Host: Al Ahly (EGY)

Reigning champions: FC Barcelona (ESP)

Asia: Burgan SC (KUW)

Africa: Montada (MAR)

Europe: Füchse Berlin (GER)

South and Central America: E.C. Pinheiros (BRA)

North America and the Caribbean: TBD (USA)

Oceania: Sydney Uni (AUS)

Wild card: Veszprém HC (HUN)

Wild card: Zamalek SC (EGY)