Group F is the only group at the 27th IHF Men’s World Championship that features two nations from each of the two represented continents – Portugal and Iceland from Europe and Algeria and Morocco from Africa –, as familiar opponents will vie for three main round berths. 

Portugal and Iceland last met in January at the Men’s EHF EURO 2020 – Iceland won 28:25 in the main round – and the seven mutual games between them might look like plenty, yet the two sides have only met three times in the past 17 years.

In the 2017 IHF Men’s World Championship qualification, the play-off in 2016, the teams split wins. However, it was Iceland who secured the World Championship berth on aggregate, 46:44.

Iceland have also won both IHF Men’s World Championship encounters, 22:19 at France 2001 and 29:28 at Portugal 2003.

In fact, Portugal have only won twice against Iceland, with their last win, 28:25, coming in the group phase of the EHF EURO 2000. Yet the Portuguese are brimming with confidence in the midst of their revival, as their young team finished sixth at the EHF EURO 2020, their best-ever result in the tournament.

With a positive head-to-head record with Morocco, after a 30:26 win in the group phase of the 2001 World Championship, the Portuguese could be considered a favourite for the main round.

Despite missing left back Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson, who retired this year, Iceland are still a very good team, with a mastermind on the bench: Gudmundur Gudmundsson.

Iceland hold a positive head-to-head record against all their Group F opponents, and have never lost to Portugal, Algeria and Morocco at a World Championship.

Algeria have come the closest to beating Iceland, but only mustered a 27:27 draw at Japan 1997, while losing the other two games, 25:34 at Tunisia 2005 and 24:32 at Qatar 2015. 

The two sides also met twice at the Olympic Games in 1984 and 1988, with Iceland taking two convincing wins, 19:15 and 22:16.

Iceland easily beat Morocco 31:23 in their only encounter at the 2001 IHF Men’s World Championship.

With Portugal and Iceland having more depth and experience, it looks like Algeria and Morocco will duel for the final main round berth in Group F.

Algeria hold the head-to-head advantage between the two sides, yet at their only meeting at an IHF Men’s World Championship ended in a 19:19 draw in 1999. Coincidentally, the event was also hosted by Egypt.

The last six meetings between the two sides have been dominated by Algeria, with six wins all by a difference of at least three goals.

Algeria and Morocco also played in January, at the 2020 CAHB Men's African Championship with Algeria winning 33:30 in the group phase. Algeria went on to finish third in the competition, while Morocco ranked sixth in the end.

All Group F matches will be played in New Capital Sports Hall on 14, 16 and 18 January. More information on the 27th IHF Men’s World Championship can be found here.