Founded in Los Angeles 2022, the California Eagles have secured their biggest performance in their history, after clinching the title in the 2024 NACHC Qualifier for the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, with a flawless display in New York.

Four teams – three from the United States of America and one from Mexico – lined up at the start of the 2024 NACHC Qualifier, as all the eight matches provided dramatic moments, especially as all sides delivered at least one win.

In the preliminary round, played under a round-robin format, none of the teams secured a clean sweept, but it was the California Eagles which won the group, mainly thanks to their 36:27 win against New York City THC. Both Hassen Dhouioui and Ty Reed scored seven goals in the match, as the Cal Eagles took a strong option to secure the first place.

Both the Cal Eagles and New York City THC lost matches in the preliminary round, as the first-placed side conceded a 15:23 loss against the Los Angeles THC, while New York’s wins against Mexican side Kraken, 36:19, and the Los Angeles THC, 35:31, could only see them finish second in the standings.

The top two sides met in the big final and it was the California Eagles which delivered the best performance, taking a 12:11 lead at the break and eventually sealing a 24:21 win, with an outstanding contribution from Felix Kerst, who scored 11 goals, nearly half of his team’s total.

Luca Engler added five more goals for the reigning US champions, which will now become the third American team, after the New York City THC and the San Francisco CalHeat to represent the country in the IHF Men’s Club World Championship.

In the bronze medal match, the Los Angeles THC delivered a 50:49 win, after penalties, against Kraken, in a match where LA’s Rasmus Bachmann scored 15 times and Kraken’s Benjamin Melendez had 14 goals.

There are eight teams qualified for the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, with only one spot remaining, to be decided on 21 July, when the Australian Club Championships and Oceania Qualifier finish.

The following nine club teams are planned to participate in the 2024 IHF Men’s Club World Championship:

Host: Al Ahly (EGY)
Reigning Champion: SC Magdeburg (GER)
Asia: Khaleej Club (KSA)
Africa: Zamalek (EGY)
Europe: FC Barcelona (ESP)
South and Central America: Handebol Taubaté (BRA)
North America and the Caribbean: California Eagles (USA)
Oceania: Australian Club Championships and Oceania Qualifier (17-21 July; Canberra, AUS)
Wild card: Veszprém HC (HUN)