The 11th IHF Men’s Youth World Championship will throw off on Wednesday, 6 August, in Egypt, with all 32 participating teams facing off in the world handball flagship competition.

The teams have been divided into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two sides in each group progressing to the main round. Hosts Egypt will take on the Republic of Korea in their opener, scheduled at 20:00 local time, in the Cairo Stadium, while the reigning champions, Spain, face Algeria.

There are plenty of high profile matches, such as the all-European clashes between Portugal and Austria, as well as the neighbouring rivalry between Serbia and Croatia, but also a clash between Slovenia and the Faroe Islands.

Group A

• 12:45 Sweden vs Kuwait
• 15:00 Portugal vs Austria

Group B

• 17:15 Hungary vs Morocco
• 19:30 Switzerland vs Kosovo

Group C

• 17:15 Serbia vs Croatia
• 19:30 Spain vs Algeria

Group D

• 12:45 Iceland vs Guinea
• 15:00 Brazil vs Saudi Arabia

Group E

• 12:45 Germany vs Uruguay
• 15:00 Slovenia vs Faroe Islands

Group F

• 17:15 Norway vs Argentina
• 19:30 France vs Mexico

Group G

• 17:15 Japan vs Bahrain
• 20:00 Egypt vs Republic of Korea

Group H

• 12:45 Denmark vs Czechia
• 15:00 Tunisia vs United States

*All hours are local time, EEST (CEST +1)

Group A
15:00 – Portugal vs Austria
Group A features three European teams, with Portugal and Austria facing off on the opening day at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in 6 of October. Both sides will be aiming to start Egypt 2025 on a positive note and move closer to the main round with an opening victory.

Portugal arrives at their fourth consecutive—and overall—appearance at the IHF Men's World Youth Championship. Their best result came in North Macedonia 2019, when they finished fourth. Portuguese handball has been on a steady rise, noted in improved performances from clubs and national teams across age groups, and this next generation is eager to prove itself on the world stage.

Portugal finished 10th at the 2024 EHF European Men's Youth Championship, which was enough for qualification for Egypt 2025. In that competition, they defeated Austria 36:32, with João Rodrigues Magalhães netting seven goals as their top scorer.Austria claimed 16th place, just enough to secure a spot in Egypt 2025. This is their second consecutive and third overall participation at this level; their best finish to date is 13th from Croatia 2023. The Austrian team will be aiming to better that mark in this edition.

Group C
17:15 - Serbia vs Croatia

A fierce rivalry between neighbouring countries throws off Group C action in Cairo. The current generations of Serbian and Croatian players seem destined to face each other in opening matches — a repeat of the scenario at the M18 EHF EURO 2024 in Montenegro, where Serbia narrowly won 36:35.

Serbia’s standout player, Đorđe Draško, was unstoppable in that encounter, scoring 14 goals, and he'll again be key for his team. After missing out on Croatia 2023 and finishing 18th and 19th in 2017 and 2019 respectively, Serbia is eager for redemption in Egypt. Their opening match against Croatia could be pivotal in a tough group.

“I expect a tough and uncertain match, highly competitive with details deciding the winner. This match is the most important one for us at the championship. We know we need to stay strong defensively and remain positive,” said Serbia's head coach Zoran Todić.

On the other side, Croatia—like Spain in this group—arrives with confidence after winning bronze at the Men's 19 EHF European Open 2025. The Croatians have shown clear improvement since finishing 13th at the M18 EHF EURO 2024 and aim to continue this trajectory. Leading the charge are Josip Tomić and Antonio Berislav Tokić, alongside Matko Moslavac and Marko Grubišić, son of renowned player Jakov Gojun.

Croatia, competing at their tenth IHF Men's Youth World Championship and boasting five medals (including gold in 2001), will want a strong start. However, facing a familiar opponent who previously beat them will pose a challenge.

The last time Serbia and Croatia met at the IHF Men's Youth World Championship was in 2011—a match that ended in a 22:22 draw.

19:30 – Spain vs Algeria

The only non-European team in the group faces a demanding opener, stepping onto the big stage against reigning champions Spain. The two sides have the honor of closing the day at the Covered Hall in the New Administrative Capital in Cairo.

Spain enters Egypt 2025 with confidence after their recent victory at the Men's 19 EHF European Open 2025, where, under coach Nacho Moyano, they narrowly overcame Iceland 31:30 in a nail-biting final. Spain is expected to start strong and will look to secure a convincing win right away.

“A team where perhaps the difficulty lies more in the lack of familiarity of the players and a completely different style of play from Europe. An African opponent we are not used to playing against, with many defensive systems, and the added complexity of a first match of the championship,” noted coach Nacho Moyano.

Meanwhile, Algeria is eager to surprise, hoping their physical and aggressive style can challenge Spain early. Every possible point is crucial in such a competitive group. Algeria booked their spot at Egypt 2025 by finishing fifth at the 2024 African Men's Youth Handball Championship. This is their second consecutive World Championship after Croatia 2023, and their previous best performances were 14th place in 2007 and 2009.

This will be the first-ever meeting between these two teams at the IHF Men's Youth World Championship.

Group E
15:00 – Slovenia vs Faroe Islands

Slovenia continues its impressive streak of IHF Men's World Youth Championship appearances, with Egypt 2025 marking its seventh straight tournament since 2011. Their best-ever result is a silver from Russia 2015, and now the Slovenes are looking to return to contention and improve on back-to-back 15th-placed finishes at North Macedonia 2019 and Croatia 2023.

Slovenia will be led by talented centre back Aljuš Anžič from RK Celje Pivovarna Laško. Anžič had a standout summer, becoming the third-best scorer (61 goals) at the 2025 IHF Men's Junior World Championship in Poland and helping Slovenia finish seventh. At just 17, Anžič is eager for strong performances at another major international event.

At the 2024 EHF European Men's Youth Championship, Anžič’s 12 goals helped Slovenia defeat the Faroe Islands 35:25. Slovenia ended that tournament ninth, while the Faroe Islands finished 15th. The Nordic squad, in their second IHF Men's World Youth Championship after finishing eighth in Croatia 2023, is hungry for revenge and determined to showcase their own talented lineup.

Group G
20:00 - Egypt vs Republic of Korea

Hosts Egypt kick off their campaign against the Republic of Korea, the first of three Asian opponents in Group G. Egypt's youth team has dominated the African continent, winning the CAHB African Men's Youth Handball Championship in eight of their nine participations.

Their most recent win came in 2024, coming from behind against Tunisia in the final. With a gold medal from 2019 and a strong fourth-place finish in 2023, Egypt aims for another podium finish—spurred on by passionate home support at Cairo Stadium Hall 1.

Egypt boasts a balanced squad, but all eyes will be on Youssef Laoloua. The talented centre back, shaped by experience with USAM Nîmes Gard in France and soon heading to Puente Genil in Spain, is vital to Egypt’s play.

Korea, though facing a tough opener, will not shy away from the challenge. They will rely on their fast-paced, energetic style, with right back Yongchan Yu, line player Choe Do-hun, and goalkeeper Hong Ui-seok—both All-Star selections from the 2024 Asian Men's Youth Handball Championship—leading the charge.

Asian runners-up Korea returned to the World Championship in Croatia 2023 after a six-year absence, but ended in a disappointing 25th place—their lowest ever. Seeking to redeem themselves, they see Egypt 2025 as an opportunity to bounce back, with two familiar Asian rivals still ahead in the group.

Egypt will be without head coach Tarek Mahrous, who suffered a health issue, and will not lead the team he prepared for the home event.

This will be only the second meeting between Egypt and Korea at the Men’s Youth World Championship—their last being in 2007, when Egypt won 33:29.

Group H
12:45 – Denmark vs Czechia

Denmark could complete a handball treble: having already claimed senior and junior IHF World Championships in 2025, the youth team aims to add another title in Egypt. With six medals, Denmark is the most decorated nation in IHF Men's Youth World Championship history, though their last championship came in 2013. The Danes want to end a 12-year wait for the youth trophy.

Last year, this Danish generation fell agonizingly short at the 2024 EHF European Men's Youth Championship, losing 36:37 to Sweden in extra time in the final. They’re now determined to win it all, and victory over Czechia in the opener would provide an early confidence boost.

Denmark has never missed an IHF Men's Youth World Championship, while Czechia is making only its second appearance after debuting with a 10th-place finish in Croatia 2023. Czechia finished 14th at the 2024 EHF European Men's Youth Championship, where they lost 24:38 to Denmark in the group stage. Entering as underdogs, Czechia is determined to fight hard and seize any opportunity at Egypt 2025.