The draw for the preliminary rounds of the 24th IHF Women’s Junior World Championship and for the 10th IHF Women’s Youth World Championship took place on Saturday, 13 April, in Neu-Ulm, on the outskirts of the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament #3.

Both draws were conducted with the help of Viola Leuchter, the All-Star Best Young Player at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship, as the Germany right back delivered her team into Group F, alongside France, Spain and a team which will be later announced, after the place reserved for the Oceania Continent Handball Federation remained unoccupied.

The reigning world champions, Norway, have been drawn into Group D, where they face Denmark, Japan and the Chinese Taipei, while the runners-up from the 2022 edition and the current European champions, Hungary, play in Group C, alongside the Republic of Korea, Argentina and Mexico.

Hosts North Macedonia had the prerogative to choose their group, after three teams were drawn into each group, and chose Group H, alongside Angola, Iceland and the United States of America, with another well-balanced group, Group A, sees Romania play against the Netherlands, Brazil and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The best two teams from each group will progress to the main round, where they will take the points secured against the other qualified team, while the other two sides head to the President's Cup.

The 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship will take place between 19 and 30 June in Skopje, North Macedonia, and will be the second edition of the competition with 32 teams at the start.

2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship – draw result

Group A: Romania, Netherlands, Brazil, Islamic Republic of Iran
Group B: Switzerland, Egypt, Tunisia, Chile
Group C: Hungary, Republic of Korea, Argentina, Mexico
Group D: Denmark, Norway, Japan, Chinese Taipei
Group E: Sweden, Czechia, People’s Republic of China, Algeria
Group F: France, Germany, Spain, TBC
Group G: Portugal, Montenegro, Guinea, Uzbekistan
Group H: Angola, North Macedonia, Iceland, United States of America



The 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship preliminary round draw also took place on Saturday, with the 32 teams learning their fate and delivering some interesting and well-balanced groups.

The reigning champions, the Republic of Korea, have been dealt a tough hand, being drawn into Group C, alongside Japan, the Netherlands and Canada, with some crunch clashes to deliver the two qualified teams for the main round.

Another well-balanced group is G, where Egypt meet Romania, Spain and Switzerland, with three European sides and a strong Egypt team, the reigning African champions, toughing it out for a place in the next phase.

Hosts People’s Republic of China had the prerogative to choose their group, after three teams were drawn into each group, and they chose Group E, where they face the runners-up of the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, Denmark, the Chinese Taipei and Greenland.

Perennial contenders Hungary, which secured a medal in the last two editions, also face a challenging task in Group F, with Norway, Argentina and Kazakhstan as their opponents, while another group with three European teams, Group A, sees Serbia, Sweden, Austria and Chile battle for the two qualifying spots.

The best two teams from each group will progress to the main round, where they will take the points secured against the other qualified team, while the other two sides head to the President's Cup.

The 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship will take place in Chuzhou, the People’s Republic of China, between 14 and 25 August, with 114 matches scheduled.

2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship – draw result

Group A: Serbia, Sweden, Austria, Chile
Group B: Croatia, Montenegro, Nigeria, Angola
Group C: Japan, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Canada
Group D: France, Brazil, India, Kosovo
Group E: Denmark, People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Greenland
Group F: Hungary, Norway, Argentina, Kazakhstan
Group G: Egypt, Romania, Spain, Switzerland
Group H: Germany, Czechia, Guinea, Iceland