The 20th edition of the Mediterranean Games will officially throw off on Friday, 21 August, in Taranto, Italy,  with 27 sports and disciplines in the programme, including five team sports, with handball once again represented.

All 26 National Olympic Committees who are members of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games will take part in the competitions, with eight men’s teams and six women’s teams being represented in the handball tournaments.

Spain are the reigning champions in both events, having secured the titles in 2022, when the competitions took place in Oran, Algeria. Spain women’s team also secured the title in 2018, while Croatia were the winners in the men’s competition when Spain hosted eight years ago.

The two competitions will take place between 22 August and 1 September in the Palazzeto dello Sport and Pala San Giacomo in Fasano and Conversano respectively, with the knockout stages taking place in the Palazzeto dello Sport.

In the men’s competition, two continents are represented – Africa and Europe. The eight participating teams have been divided into two groups of four teams each, with the top two sides in each group progressing to the semi-finals.

In Group A, hosts Italy will face Egypt, Kosovo and Portugal, while Group B sees two African teams – Tunisia and Algeria – pit against two European sides – Greece and Cyprus. 

A new champion will be crowned, with Egypt being the only participating team securing the title in the previous 30 years, as the African side were crowned champions in 2013, when they had a stellar team, spearheaded by Ahmed Elahmar, Ali Zein, Mohamed Mamdouh Shebib, Ibrahim Elmasry and Karim Hendawy.

Over the past 20 years, in the women’s competition at the Mediterranean Games, only three teams won the competition – France, Spain and Serbia. With all three not taking part in this edition, a new winner will be crowned, with four European sides and two African sides competing for the trophy.

The six teams will feature first in the preliminary round, played in a round-robin format, 

On paper, Greece will be the favourites of the competition, bring a strong team to the competition, with arguably the same backbone which helped the European side qualify for the Women’s EHF EURO 2026.

Hosts Italy also have plenty of experience in their squad, with Kosovo and North Macedonia being the other two European teams at the start. The line-up is completed by Algeria and Tunisia, which will be preparing for the 2026 CAHB African Women’s Handball Championship.

The top two sides in the preliminary round will qualify for the gold medal match, while the third and fourth-placed sides feature in the bronze-medal match.

The finals of the men’s competition are scheduled for 31 August, while the women’s finals are scheduled for 1 September.

Photo credit: Hellenic Handball Federation - OXE