Argentina made their debut at the IHF Women’s World Championship back in 1999 and after missing out on qualification two years later, they have built together an appearance streak of 12 editions in a row, with their best result in the competition coming at Japan 2019, when they finished 16th.

However, due to the expansion of the competition to 32 teams, their best performances could be considered the last two editions, Spain 2021 and Denmark/Norway/Sweden 2023, when the South American side made it out of the preliminary round and into the main round for the first two times.

Each time, Argentina have won two matches – just like in 2007, 2013, 2015 or 2019 – but the quality of the opponents they won against was obviously higher, as the South American side earned invaluable experience to take over into their evolution.

And in the last two editions of the competition, Argentina have secured wins against European opposition. First, in 2021, they beat Austria, 31:29, a team which they will also face in the preliminary round at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, while two years ago they defeated Ukraine, 25:20, in the main round.

They are also a force on their continent, finishing second in each edition of the South and Central America Women’s Championship, with a single loss in each of the four appearances, with only Brazil being able to defeat Argentina in the continental competition.

However, it is clear that the ambition is there and with several players featuring in Europe, especially in Spain, Argentina are getting better and better. From the 35 players called up in the provisional squad, only 10 are playing in the domestic league, with 20 others plying their trade in the Spanish league.

“We are coming in this competition with the desire and the intention to fight in all the matches, to qualify into the main round and obviously try to improve our previous World Championship positions,” said Argentina’s most experienced player, left back Elke Karsten, for ihf.info.

To progress in the main round, Argentina will have to overcome some serious hurdles, in the form of two European teams, the Netherlands and Austria, as well as debutants Egypt, in one of the most balanced groups of the competition.

The Netherlands and Argentina met two times in the last two years, with the outcome being a double-digit win for the Dutch side each time. The two teams were pit at the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship in the preliminary round, when the co-hosts of this edition of the competition won 41:26, while at the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament, the Netherlands secured another win, 34:22.
“We know that we're playing against the Netherlands, which is a top team. Austria as well, and Egypt, which is a debutant, but we know it's going to be very tough,” added Karsten.

So far, Argentina have won 18 matches from the 77 they played at the IHF Women’s World Championship and, provided they secure another two, just like in the previous three editions, they can reach the 20-win milestone in the competition.

But are they ready to make the next step and improve on their condition from the previous years?

Key players: Elke Karsten (left back), Marisol Carratu (goalkeeper), Malena Cavo (right back)

Coach: Mariano Munoz

Qualification for Germany/Netherlands 2025: 2024 South and Central America Women's Championship: Runners-up

History in tournament: 1999: 24th, 2003: 22nd, 2005: 20th, 2007: 20th, 2009: 19th, 2011: 23rd, 2013: 19th, 2015: 18th, 2017: 23rd, 2019: 16th, 2021: 21st, 2023: 20th

Group at Germany/Netherlands 2025: Group E (Netherlands, Austria, Argentina, Egypt)