The 2026 South and Central American Women's Junior Handball Championship will throw off on Monday, 12 January, in Asuncion, Paraguay, with eight teams at the start.

This competition will be a qualification event for the next year’s 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, with the top three teams making their way to the world handball flagship competition.

Moreover, the Continental Phase of the IHF Trophy Women – Junior for the South and Central American Confederation, will be played in conjunction with the competition, with four teams lined up at the start.

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, edging closer to secure their tickets for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship.

In Group A, title favourites Argentina will face Uruguay, Colombia and El Salvador, while continental powerhouse Brazil are in Group B, alongside Chile, Guatemala and hosts Paraguay.

The four teams which are featuring in the IHF Trophy Women – Junior for the South and Central American Confederation are Colombia, El Salvador and Guatemala. The winner of the Trophy will qualify for the Intercontinental phase of the IHF Trophy Junior Women.

The competition will see its winner crowned on Friday, 16 January.

The 2026 South and Central American Women's Junior Handball Championship is a qualification event for the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, with the top three sides in the competition – the teams finishing on the podium – earning their tickets for the world handball flagship competition.