The road to the 2025 IHF Men's World Championship has now started, with 10 European teams entering the fray in the European Qualification Phase 1, the first part of the path towards a place at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025.

Five of the 10 teams entering this part of the European Qualification will progress to the next stage, where three other teams are already waiting, with Lithuania, Ukraine and Belgium being directly qualified for that phase, with the latter side trying to secure back-to-back qualifications at the world handball flagship event.

The 10 teams have now found out their opponents after a draw in Vienna, Austria on Wednesday, 5 July.

A Baltic derby will pit together Estonia and Latvia, two teams which have never secured a place at the world handball flagship event. In contrast, Slovakia, a team trying to get back to the top, will face Kosovo in the European Qualification Phase 1.

Italy, an emerging team, will have their work cut out in a bid for the first time since 1997, being drawn together with Türkiye, another side which can be a dark horse in their bid for a place at the IHF Men's World Championship.

Last but not least, Israel will be favoured against Luxembourg, while Great Britain hope to produce another surprise, this time against Finland, a team which has had good results over the last years.

The first-named team in each pairing has the first home right for the doubleheader. The first legs will be played on Wednesday, 1 November, and Thursday, 2 November, with the second legs on Saturday, 4 November, and Sunday, 5 November.

2025 IHF Men's World Championship Qualification Europe Phase 1 draw

Luxembourg vs Israel
Great Britain vs Finland
Latvia vs Estonia
Slovakia vs Kosovo
Türkiye vs Italy