Handball goes global: Egypt and Brazil create history after 26 years

27 Jan. 2025

Handball goes global: Egypt and Brazil create history after 26 years

For the first time since 1999, two non-European teams from different hemispheres will compete in the IHF Men's World Championship quarter-finals, as Brazil and Egypt finished second in their groups and eliminated other powerhouses such as Norway and Sweden, in Brazil’s case, or Slovenia and Iceland, in Egypt’s situation. This marks the fourth time in history that the knock-out stage of the flagship event will throw off featuring two non-European teams.

The first time when two non-European sides ended up in the quarter-finals at the IHF Men’s World Championship was at Japan 1997, when the Republic of Korea and Egypt were between the top eight sides in the world. Both conceded losses against Russia and France respectively.

Two years later, Egypt, which hosted the competition, were once again between the top eight sides in the world, but this time around they were joined by Cuba. Once again, they were out, after conceding losses against Russia and Sweden respectively.

The fourth time came many years later, in the recent 2021. Egypt reached the top eight but were eventually eliminated by Denmark in that unforgettable quarter-final. As for the second team, it was Qatar, who also lost against Sweden.

 


A mammoth task for Brazil

But for Brazil, Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025 will always be a special edition of the world handball flagship competition. Their previous best was the ninth place at Denmark/Germany 2019, where they beat Russia, Iceland and Croatia, but conceded double-digits losses against Germany and Spain, with still a big gap between them and the top nations in the world.

This time around, the South and Central American champions outdid themselves, with wins over Norway (29:26), Sweden (27:24) and Spain (26:25), three teams which took part at the Paris 2024 Olympic games, losing a single match from the first six they played, against Portugal (26:30).

“I think this performance is not only for Brazilian handball, but for the handball in South America. Our neighbours, both Argentina and Chile, congratulated us for this performance. And this proves that talent is still there,” says Brazil’s left back, Haniel Langaro.
“ I think it's very important for us. And well, it is because it shows that we're still growing. The work is well done and we have to continue.”

Maybe the South American side did not have the most impressive attack – they rank 16th, with an average of 27.8 goals per game – but they have the second best goalkeeping unit in the competition, 38.3% in saving efficiency, just behind Denmark, and conceded the ninth lowest number of goals, 151 in six matches so far.

And all after failing to make it to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a huge disappointment for Brazil, after losing in the final of the 2023 Pan American Games against Argentina, and then placing third at the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament #1, behind Slovenia and Spain.

Now both Slovenia and Spain, as well as Argentina, are not in the quarter-finals of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, with Brazil sneaking in. And being there, a huge performance, is a huge signal for younger players that they can emulate this success.

Models bring young players in the arena, proving that anything is achievable and anything is possible in handball, if the right context is provided and the team really delivers on the court.

“Well, certainly, I think we inspire not only the younger players, but also the clubs, the Federation, everything, everybody. To continue growing with handball, to continue getting better, because this is an amazing achievement,” continues Langaro.

On the other hand, Brazil will hope to deliver yet another shock, against the third Scandinavian team they face, completing the hat-trick of wins against Denmark, the reigning world champions, which are currently on a 36-match unbeaten streak at the IHF Men’s World Championship.

Therefore, the mission is definitely difficult. Some would argue impossible. But Langaro has seen a lot in this competition and with Brazil peaking at the right time, handball has seen its fair of shocks. This would probably top all of them.

“It's the favourite team, not only to win against us, but to win the World Championship. I think we have to take advantage of this opportunity. As I said, what we're witnessing is very special for us, for Brazil, for the handball in South America,” adds Langaro.

Third time the charm for Egypt?

If Brazil are in the quarter-finals of the IHF Men’s World Championship for the first time in history, Egypt have established themselves as one of the powerhouses of the competition. They are already in this stage of the competition for the third consecutive edition, but have never made into the semi-finals in this stint.

But the African champions know what it means. In fact, they secured a top-8 finish for the eighth time in 18 appearances, with their best result being the fourth place at France 2001, when they lost the bronze medal match against Yugoslavia.

What does it mean for Egypt? Well, a lot. They have went through thick and thin, with their quarter-finals loss against Denmark, at Egypt 2021, becoming an instant classic, an epic match, which was decided on penalties and kickstarted Denmark’s domination in the competition.

However, it also proves that with a good system in place, everything can work out, irrrespective of the injuries – such as the one suffered by Yehia Elderaa last autumn, or retirements, such as the one of legendary right back Ahmed Elahmar.

“It’s very important to have not just European teams that are in the quarter-finals in a IHF Men’s World Championship – and I hope we can continue, why not? It's important to expand handball in other places, not just in Europe. We need to believe how we are working, how we are working in Brazil, also all the other teams. Argentina is working good; a new generation, we will see. It's very important to know in handball we need to put more countries in the world,” said Egypt’s coach, Juan Carlos Pastor.

“In handball, always. I follow my players in competitions in France, Bundesliga, Spain, Portugal, Norwegian, Denmark, Romanian, Champions League, European League. I follow them all, also sometimes I follow the IHF Men’s Club World Championship, to see how these teams are working, watching the Brazilian teams are working. I have connection with some players who are playing in the Brazilian and Argentinean leagues. It is not just handball with my team. I love handball. This is my life, handball. Always, I’m ready to help any country, any place, anyone.”

But Pastor knows that this is much more than Egypt, the cumulative success of his side and Brazil at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship makes the sport global, inspires more players to become better, proving that anything is possible and a place in the quarter-finals is not assured, never being a foregone conclusion.

Coincidentally, in both Brazil and Egypt, handball is not the most popular sport – it’s clear that football is, but in the African country, handball has been getting more and more popular, with the pool of players starting to impress early being bigger and bigger, as shown in the previous editions of the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, where Egypt clinched the title in 2019.

But Egypt had time to give some kudos to Brazil, with Langaro and fellow Egyptian left back Ali Zein being teammates at Romanian side Dinamo București, where they are playing in the EHF Champions League Men.

Of course, it's important. I have a lot of friends in Brazil, and really, the handball is growing now and growing so, so up and to see Brazil in a very, very strong, hard group.

“To qualify is something to make us understand that you have to prepare, do hard work, have patience and to have something you deeply want. You can do it. This makes me feel like everything is possible in life. I'm very happy for them, and I hope for them to pass more. I know they have a very difficult game now, but I wish for them all the best to do something bigger. I have a lot of friends and I send them all (messages) l that I'm very happy for them, really. I wish for them to continue like that,” said Zein.

Zein, Seif Elderaa or Mohamad Sanad, as well as Brazil’s stars, all said that the performance secured by Brazil and Egypt is crucial for the development of handball. And the results do not lie: these teams have conceded a single loss and are between the best eight sides in the world.

For the first time in 26 years, there are six European sides and two non-European sides in the quarter-finals of the IHF Men’s World Championship. And now, at least one of them waits for a semi-finals berth, despite facing the two finalists of the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, Denmark and France.